Chromosomal changes in ankylosing spondylitis_patients : correlation with disease activity

Abstract EN

Subjects: In a trial to find out the genetic factors other than HLA-B27 contributing to the etiology of ankylosing spondylitis (AS), we studied two groups of subjects: Group I (G1): Included 21 AS patients 18 males and 3 females.

Their mean age was 39.09 ± 4.1 years and the mean disease duration was 2.78 ± 1.44 years.

Group II (G2): Included 20 apparently healthy volunteers, matched for age (x ± SD = 37.4 ± 5.4) and sex.

Method: Patients were subjected to full history taking, detailed locomotory system examination, assessment of disease activity, ophthalmoscopic examination as well as plain x-rays of the sacroiliac joints and spine.

Patients and controls were subjected to sister chromatid exchange (SCE) examination.

Results: There was a statistical significant difference between AS patients and controls as regards SCE (p< 0.004).

Also our results showed a significant correlation between SCE and parameters of disease activity (p < 0.001) of AS patients.

Conclusion: Other genetic or perhaps environmental factors than HLA B27 might trigger DNA damage and play an important role in the onset of AS.