Table 1.
Clinical characteristics and laboratory findings of AS patients and health controls.
| AS (n = 69) | Control (n = 65) | P Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (mean ± SD) | 39.5 ± 10.3 | 38.2 ± 11.6 | 0.134 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 22.1 ± 2.7 | 22.4 ± 2.5 | 0.478 |
| Sex (male/female) | 56/13 | 50/15 | 0.546 |
| Disease duration, median (range) | 5.2 (2.5–13.6) | / | / |
| Family history, n (%) | 36 (52.2%) | / | / |
| Peripheral arthritis, n (%) | 30 (43.5%) | / | / |
| BASDAI | 4.82 ± 2.11 | / | / |
| BASFI | 2.12 ± 1.13 | / | / |
| NSAIDs use, n (%) | 45 (65%) | / | / |
| DMARDs use, n (%) | 23 (33.3%) | / | / |
| TNF-α inhibitor use, n (%) | 20 (28.9%) | / | / |
| CRP, mg/dL | 3.07 ± 1.13 | 0.73 ± 0.11 | < 0.001 |
| HLA-B27(+), n (%) | 59 (85.5%) | / | / |
| Serum miR-21 expression | 2.17 ± 0.95 | 0.46 ± 0.17 | < 0.001 |
BMI, body mass index; BASDAI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index; BASFI, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; CRP, C-reactive protein; NSAIDs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; DMARDs, disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs.