Extra-Articular Manifestations in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: Baseline Characteristics from the RBSMR Study.

Abstract

To describe and analyse the prevalence of extra-articular manifestations (EAMs) including acute anterior uveitis (AAU), psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in the Moroccan registry of biological therapies in rheumatic diseases RBSMR (Registre des Biothérapies de la Société Marocaine de Rhumatologie). A cross-sectional, multicentre and analytical study based on the RBSMR database, which included 170 AS. Incidence rates for the development of AAU, psoriasis and IBD were calculated, and risk factors were analysed. Prevalence of EAMs in AS was 13.5%, 4.7% and 11.2% for AAU, psoriasis and IBD respectively. No significant differences were found while establishing a comparison of the prevalence of these EAMs between AS patients with and without peripheral arthritis. Interestingly, AAU was the most common EAM, and was positively associated in multivariable regression with family history of spondyloarthritis (OR= 7.21, CI 95%: 2.23-23.24). AAU was the leading EAM in patients with AS included in the Moroccan biotherapy registry (RBSMR) and it was associated with family history of spondyloarthritis.