Peripheral Arthropathy of Ankylosing Spondylitis （AS）

The incidence of peripheral arthropathy in 148 patients with AS was 88 per cent. The pationts with juvenile onset had a higher incidence of peripheral arthripathy as compared with those with adult onset （P＜0.01）. Asymmetric arthritis of lower limbs accounted for 83 per cent in 47 cases of this condition. Eighty five percent of patients developed lumbosacrol pain and/or stiffiness within five years after the onset of peripheral arthropathy. There was higher rate of arthritis, enthesopathy and disability of hip in patients with peripheral arthropathy than in those without it. The ESR and serum level of CRP and IgA were significantly elevated in patients with arthritis, and this could be regarded as reference indexes of disease activity of AS. Routine radiographic examination of the sacroiliac joints and HLA-B27 detection may facilitate the early diagnosis of AS.