title: Ankylosing spondylitis--cardiac manifestations.
abstract: There is a definite association of heart disease with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). The magnitude of this relationship is less clear. Three types of inflammatory affections can be differentiated: 1. aortitis and aortic insufficiency with the possible necessity of cardiac surgery, 2. conduction disturbances of the atrioventricular node with a probable subsequent indication for a pacemaker and 3. myocardial involvement with a possible compromise of left ventricular function. There seems to be an HLA B27-associated cardiac syndrome consisting of aortic root disease and conduction abnormalities. Patients can be recognized at pre-clinical stages. Prospective studies have not been performed. HLA B27-related heart disease does not seem to be associated with increased mortality.
authors.affiliation: Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, St. Josefs-Krankenhaus, Herne, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lautermann
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology