title: Relationship between some acute phase reactants and the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aims of this study were to investigate a possible relationship between the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and some acute phase reactant (APR) levels in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty outpatients who fulfilled the modified New York criteria for AS were included in the study. Laboratory activity was assessed by examining erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), and beta2 microglobulin (beta2MG). Disease activity was assessed according to the BASDAI, which includes a 10-point visual analogue scale to measure pain, fatigue, morning stiffness, swelling, and areas of local tenderness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When APR values were analyzed for the BASDAI, a positive correlation between CRP and BASDAI was observed (r = 0.556, P < 0.05). There was no clear, statistically significant correlation between BASDAI and the other APRs (ESR, r = 0.328, P > 0.05; Hp, r = 0.035, P > 0.05; and beta2MG, r = -0.190, P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that CRP is a better marker of disease activity than ESR, Hp, and beta2MG.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. kadiryildirim88@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Kadir
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Akin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erdal
authors.forename: Saliha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karatay
authors.forename: Meltem Alkan
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Melikoğlu
authors.forename: Mahir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uğur
authors.forename: Kazim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Senel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005221:Fatigue / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D006242:Haptoglobins; D001613:beta 2-Microglobulin; D002097:C-Reactive Protein