Mouna Chelli Bouaziz, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Wafa Hamdi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mohamed Mehdi Ghannouchi, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mohamed Montacer Kchir, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Mohamed Fethi Ladeb, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Recent epidemiological studies have pointed out the increasing of morbidity and mortality in patients with AS. The life mode, associated metabolic disorders, spinal and joint ankylosis limiting physical activity as well as genotype, inflammatry context and use of corticosteroids are the most incriminated factors. The measure of the carotid intima-media constitutes a real infra clinical atheromatosis marker and allows a long term prediction of vascular accident risk. The aim of this study was to assess the carotid intima-media thickness in patients with AS and compare with a control group  

60 patients (48 men and 12 women), fulfilling modified New York criteria for AS and 60 age and gender paired control subjects  were included in this cross sectional study. Ususal risk factors for atherosclerosis including hypertension, body index mass, tobacco use, diabetes and dyslipedimia were assessed. Righ and left carotid intima media thickness (IMT) were measured in all patients and controls by the same radiologist using the same ultrasound machine (15 Mhz linear probe)

Patients mean age was 36 ± 11 years. The mean disease duration was 13,1±8,5 years. The mean age of disease onset was 25,1± 11,2 years. Patients and controls were comparable regarding to classical atherosclerosis risk factors . The mean IMT was 0,51±0,12 mm for AS group and 0,39± 0,09 for control group (p< 0.0001).

Our study confirms that atherosclerosis risk is more important in AS patients. The IMT measurement using high resolution ultrasound is a sensitive, non invasive, reliable and reproducible method to assess this risk that also allows a long term follow up of AS patients

The IMT measurement using high resolution ultrasound is a non invasive, reliable and reproducible method to assess atherosclerosis  risk that also allows a long term follow up of AS patients

Chelli Bouaziz, M, Hamdi, W, Ghannouchi, M, Kchir, M, Ladeb, M, Noninvasive Evaluation of Atherosclerosis Risk in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS).  Radiological Society of North America 2011 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 26 - December 2, 2011 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2011/11012132.html