EXTRA-ARTICULAR MANIFESTATIONS IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: A SINGLE CENTER ANALYSIS IN WESTERN ALGERIA

Our objective was to analyze and assess the extra-articular manifestations (EAMs) associated with
the ankylosing spondylitis in Western Algeria. 292 patients diagnosed with AS at the level of
rehabilitation department of Hassani Abdelkader Hospital of Sidi Bel Abbes region were enrolled.
Studied parameters were: age, gender, disease duration, disease age onset, morning stiffness, joint
involvements, laboratory data, disease activity, and treatments. All data were processed and analyzed
via SPSS 22.0. 105) Algerian AS patients with
EAMs) and 187 without EAMs were involved. The average disease duration was of 7.72 ± 4.970 and
6.55 ± 3.613 years in the EAMs and without EAMs groups, respectively. The group without EAMs
suffered more from their lumbar (77%) and high inflammatory parameters (63.1% CRPpositive), and
most of them were smokers 20 (10.7%). However, EAMs patients' suffered the most from their joint
(20% Vs 9.6 had knees affection and 41.9% Vs 25.7% had hips affection, respectively). High disease
activity was more noted in EAMs group (52.4% VS 43.3%). Uveitis (AAU) and psoriasis (PsO) were
the most common EAMs reported in AS patients and were significantly associated with radiological
joint damage and duration morning stiffness p<0.05. In AS Algerian patients, uveitis was the most
common reported EAMs with higher radiological joint damage, high inflammatory parameters and
high disease activity score.