Relationship between desease activity and ultrasonographic enthesitis assessment of lower extremity in ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the relationship between clinical and laboratory indicators of disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Glasgow Ultrasound Enthesitis Scoring System (GUESS) score which is created for diagnosis and monitoring of enthesitis. Materials and Methods: 50 patients with diagnosis of AS who were following-up in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinic of Istanbul Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. Routine biochemical tests, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) were analysed. BASDAI, ASDAS-ESR and ASDAS-CRP scores were calculated for desease activity. Clinical enthesitis scores was calculated according to Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Index (MASES). The relationship between clinical and laboratory findings and GUESS scores were investigated. Results: 37 (74%) male, 13 (26%) female patients were evaluated. Mean disease onset age was 28.2, mean disease duration was 7.18 years. Mean GUESS score was calculated as 11.36 (SD: 5.27). There were not any significant correlation between GUESS scores and age or disease onset age. GUESS scores were slightly significant positively correlated with disease duration (r=0.49 p<0.001). BASMI, BASFI, BASDAI and ASDAS-CRP, ASDAS-ESR values were not correlated with GUESS scores. Also there were not any significant correlation between GUESS scores and MASES scores. Conclusion: Although GUESS system is a fast and easy method for diagnosis and follow-up of enthesitis it has not found to be correlated with clinical and laboratory disease activity parameters in AS. We think that new scoring systems for USG should be developed for AS.