Cerebral hemodynamics in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The aim of this study was to assess the cerebral blood flow velocity as a marker by using transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS:

A total of 30 AS patients aged 20 to 50 were enrolled in the AS group (male/female: 4/26, mean age: 34.7 $\pm$ 5.9) consecutively. The control group (non-AS group; male/female: 4/26, mean age: 32.3 $\pm$ 4.7) consisted of 30 age- and sex-matched, randomly selected patients without AS who had other diagnoses such as fibromyalgia and did not have risk factors for atherosclerosis. Bilateral middle cerebral artery (MCA) peak-systolic, end-diastolic, and mean blood flow velocities, Gosling’s pulsatility index values, and Pourcelot’s resistance index values were recorded with TCD by a neurosonologist blinded to the AS and control groups.

RESULTS:

The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and cerebral blood flow velocities of bilateral MCA were significantly higher in the AS group than in the control group.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study highlights that the increased cerebral blood flow is indirectly associated with atherosclerosis regarding persistent inflammation in patients with AS.