title: Disease activity in ankylosing spondylitis and associations to markers of vascular pathology and traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and population controls, and to examine the associations between disease activity and CVD risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was done of patients with AS grouped according to Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) into ASDAS-high and ASDAS-low. Markers of vascular pathology, impaired endothelial function [asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)], and arterial stiffness [augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV)], and traditional CVD risk factors [blood pressure, lipids, body mass index (BMI), CVD risk scores] were compared between AS and controls as well as across ASDAS-high versus ASDAS-low versus controls using ANCOVA analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether, 151 patients with AS and 134 controls participated. Patients had elevated ADMA (µmol/l) and AIx (%) compared to controls: mean difference (95% CI): 0.05 (0.03, 0.07), p < 0.001 and 2.6 (0.8, 4.3), p = 0.01, respectively. AIx increased with higher ASDAS level, p(trend) < 0.04. There were no significant group differences of PWV. BMI was higher in ASDAS-high compared to ASDAS-low (p = 0.02). Total cholesterol was lower in AS compared to controls, and lower with higher ASDAS, p(trend) = 0.02. CVD risk scores were similar across groups except for Reynolds Risk Score, where the ASDAS-high group had a significantly higher score, compared to both ASDAS-low and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Elevated ADMA and AIx in AS support a higher CVD risk in AS. Elevated AIx and BMI in AS with high ASDAS indicate an association between disease activity and CVD risk. Lower total cholesterol in AS may contribute to underestimation of CVD risk.
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo. ingerjoridberg@gmail.com.
authors: Inger Jorid
authors: IJ
authors: Berg
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.
authors: Désirée
authors: D
authors: van der Heijde
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.
authors: Hanne
authors: H
authors: Dagfinrud
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.
authors: Ingebjørg
authors: I
authors: Seljeflot
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.
authors: Inge Christoffer
authors: IC
authors: Olsen
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.
authors: Tore K
authors: TK
authors: Kvien
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.
authors: Anne Grete
authors: AG
authors: Semb
authors: From the Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital, and Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands.I.J. Berg, MD; H. Dagfinrud, PhD; I.C. Olsen, PhD; T.K. Kvien, MD, PhD; A.G. Semb, MD, PhD; S.A. Provan, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital; D. van der Heijde, MD, PhD, Department of Rheumatology, Diakonhjemmet Hospital and Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center; I. Seljeflot, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Center for Clinical Heart Research, Oslo University Hospital Ullevål, and Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo.
authors: Sella A
authors: SA
authors: Provan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D063177:Pulse Wave Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059289:Vascular Stiffness / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS; CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE; DISEASE ACTIVITY; LIPOPROTEINS