Demographic, clinical and radiological characteristics of seronegative spondyloarthritis Egyptian patients: A rheumatology clinic experience in Mansoura

Abstract

Introduction: Seronegative spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a group of chronic potentially disabling diseases that affect mainly axial joints in addition to extra-articular manifestations such as enthesitis, dactylitis and uveitis.\nAim of the work: To assess the demographic features, clinical manifestations and radiological findings of SpA in Egyptian patients.\nPatients and methods: Fifty-three SpA patients were recruited from the Rheumatology and Immunology Unit of Mansoura University Hospital. Demographic, clinical and therapeutic data were collected. Skin was carefully assessed for psoriasis. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured. All patients were evaluated by conventional radiographs of hands, knees, ankles, sacroiliac joints (SIJ) and lumbosacral spines in addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the SIJs.\nResults: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was the most prevalent (55%) followed by psoriatic arthritis (PsA) (38%) and 2 patients had enteropathic arthritis, one had reactive arthritis and another had undifferentiated SpA. The mean age of the patients was 39 ± 10.8 years; disease duration was 10 ± 3.5 years with a male predominance (58%). Inflammatory low back pain was present in all the patients and 77.4% had both axial and peripheral arthritis. Extra-articular manifestations as enthesitis, bursitis and dactylitis were detected in only 9.4% of patients. Sacroiliitis was detected in 81.1% of patients using conventional radiographs. MRI detected bone marrow edema in 9.4%, narrowing in 11.3%, sclerosis in 17% and ankylosis in 52.8%.\nConclusion: The demographic, clinical and radiological characteristics of Egyptian SpA patients are comparable to those from other countries except for the lower prevalence of extra-articular manifestations.