title: Ankylosing Spondylitis: A rheumatology clinic experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency, demographics, laboratory and radiological features in patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data of patients with a diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), based on Modified New York criteria. The study was conducted at the Rheumatology Clinic of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), from February 2004 to February 2014. Detailed history, examination and laboratory investigations were recorded in a pre-designed structured proforma. The frequency, demographic characteristics, extra-articular features and associated co-morbidities were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 603 patients were registered in our Rheumatology Clinic during this period, with a definitive diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatological disorders. Out of these, Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) was diagnosed in 32 (5.3%) patients. 24 were male and 8 patients were female. The commonest affected age group was between 21-40 years. Majority of the patients belonged to Pathan ethnicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The demographic features of AS are same as reported in earlier studies from other parts of the world. The predominance of AS in specific ethnic groups is a fact that needs to be studied. Larger studies are required for clarifying the triggers of this disease. It often leads to severe disability, hence an early diagnosis and prompt treatment is required for better disease control and quality of life.
authors.affiliation: Prof. Tasnim Ahsan, MRCP (UK), FRCP(Glasg), FRCP(Edin), FRCP(Lon). Medical Unit-II, Rafiqee Shaheed Road, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Tasnim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahsan
authors.affiliation: Dr. Uzma Erum, MBBS. Medical Unit-II, Rafiqee Shaheed Road, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Erum
authors.affiliation: Dr. Rukhshanda Jabeen, MBBS, FCPS. Medical Unit-II, Rafiqee Shaheed Road, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Rukhshanda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jabeen
authors.affiliation: Dr. Danish Khowaja, MBBS. Medical Unit-II, Rafiqee Shaheed Road, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Danish
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khowaja
keywords: Ankylosing Spondylitis; Extra-articular features; Spondyloarthropathy