Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND:
Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic systemic inflammatory disorder affecting the spine and other areas of the body(joints and entheses). Fibromyalgia is a syndrome characterized by chronic( more than three months) wide spread musculoskeletal pain. Detection of fibromyalgia in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is an important aspect in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.
OBJECTIVE:
To determine the association of fibromyalgia with adult ankylosing spondylitis, and to evaluate the effect of coexisting fibromyalgia on the scores of disease activity and functional status.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A case-control study with 100 ankylosing spondylitis patients and 100 controls enrolled in the study. Ankylosing spondylitis was diagnosed with modified New York criteria. Fibromyalgia assessed by using modified 2010/ 2011 American Collage of Rheumatology criteria for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
RESULTS:
Fibromyalgia was found in 25% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis with female: male ratio(5.2:1), while seen in 6% of controls with female to male ratio(5.9:1). Fibromyalgia was significantly associated with increase in the disease activity index. The function index in fibromyalgia patients was significantly higher than in non-fibromyalgia patients.
CONCLUSION:
Fibromyalgia is more common in ankylosing spondylitis patients than in controls. The coexistence of fibromyalgia with ankylosing spondylitis negatively impacts the scores of ankylosing spondylitis disease activity and functional status.
KEYWORDS: Fibromyalgia, Ankylosing spondylitis.