Table 1.
Demographics and clinical data of the ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients and healthy volunteers.
| AS patients (n = 22) | Healthy volunteers (n = 18) | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years, mean ± s.d.) | 42·6 ± 10·2 | 40·1 ± 9·3 | 0·33 |
| Sex (F : M) | 8:14 | 5:13 | 0·74 |
| HLA-B27 (+) | 100% (22/22) | – | |
| C-reactive protein (mg/dl) | 0·50 ± 0·68 | – | |
| BASRI-lumbar spine | 1·9 ± 1·4 | – | |
| Sacroiliitis (grading) | 2·6 ± 1·1 | – | |
| Medication | |||
| NSAID | 91% (20/22) | – | |
| Salazopyrine | 91% (20/22) | – | |
| Anti-TNF therapy | 5% (1/22) | – |
BASRI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiology Index; NSAID: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; TNF: tumour necrosis factor; s.d.: standard deviation; –: not determined.