title: Carotid intima-media thickness and paraoxonase activity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The risk of atherosclerosis is increased in several rheumatological disorders, but any such risk remains unproven for ankylosing spondylitis. Since carotid intima-media thickness is an indicator of early atherosclerosis, and the paraoxonase (PON1) enzyme has antioxidant activity to prevent LDL oxidation, we aimed to identify: 1) the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum paraoxonase (PON1) activity in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients; and 2) the possible differences in CIMT in AS patients versus age-matched, healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-five AS patients (36.8±9.8 years, 36 males, 9 females) and 30 controls (35.9±10.2 years, 23 males, 7 females) were recruited consecutively. Serum PON1 activity and CIMT were measured. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Radiologic Index (BASRI) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) were used to identify relationships between these clinical indices and levels of CIMT and PON1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CIMT was significantly increased in AS patients relative to controls (0.49±0.06 mm vs. 0.59±0.07 mm; p < 0.0001). Conversely, serum PON1 activity was decreased (199.1±60.3 U/L vs. 96.7±29 U/L; p < 0.0001). PON1 activity was negatively correlated with CIMT (r = -0.557, p = 0.0001). Disease duration was positively correlated with CIMT (r = 0.542, p = 0.0001) and negatively correlated with PON1 (r = -0.649, p = 0.0001). On multivariate analysis, disease duration and serum PON1 activity were found to be independent predictors of CIMT (R2 = 0.687, p = 0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, significantly increased CIMT and decreased PON1 activity suggest a relationship between atherosclerosis and AS: a relationship that is strongly correlated with disease duration.
authors.affiliation: Harran University School of Medicine, Departmentof Radiology, Sanliurfa, Turkey. hasan_cece@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cece
authors.forename: Pelin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yazgan
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karakas
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karakas
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Demirkol
authors.forename: Ismail
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Toru
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aksoy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D043303:Aryldialkylphosphatase