title: Ankylosing spondylitis in Singapore: a study of 150 patients and a local update.
abstract: This paper presents the results of a clinical study of 150 patients in Singapore with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and reviews recent developments locally with regards to the disease. The patients were predominantly males (ratio 7:1) and Chinese (n = 147). The onset of disease is usually in the early twenties and there was a mean delay of 6.3 years before diagnosis was made. Peripheral joint involvement is common but apart from uveitis (17%), extra-articular manifestations are rare. AS patients have abnormal lipid profiles and lower bone mineral density compared to healthy controls. HLA*B2704 is the predominant subtype in our Chinese patients whilst HLA*B2706 was found only in healthy controls. Intensive group physiotherapy is beneficial for patients with spondyloarthropathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: W H
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Boey
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008296:Malaysia / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012494:Sampling Studies; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal