Comparison of clinical and radiographic characteristics between patients with AS with pulmonary TB infection and AS-related lung disease.
| AS TB Infection, n = 40 (%) | AS Inflammation, n = 22 (%) | p | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male:female | 32:8 | 20:2 | |
| Mean age at onset, yrs (range) | 29.8 ± 8.8 (14–48) | 27.9 ± 8.5 (12–48) | |
| Mean age of lung disease, yrs (range) | 44.5 ± 16.9 (17–73) | 45.4 ± 14.0 (26–71) | |
| AS preceded lung disease, yrs (range) | 17.0 ± 13.0 (0.5–49) | 17.6 ± 11.8 (3–41) | |
| Cough | 30 (75) | 17 (77.3) | 0.343 |
| Dyspnea | 18 (45) | 11 (50) | 0.706 |
| Hemoptysis | 12 (30) | 3 (13.6) | 0.150 |
| Fever | 11 (27.5) | 2 (9.1) | 0.112 |
| Chest pain | 24 (60) | 14 (63.6) | 0.779 |
| History of peripheral arthritis | 19 (47.5) | 9 (40.9) | 0.855 |
| Uveitis | 9 (22.5) | 5 (22.7) | 0.984 |
| Lung fibrosis | |||
| Upper lobe | 13 (32.5) | 10 (45.5) | 0.312 |
| Lower lobes | 16 (40) | 6 (27.3) | 0.316 |
| Diffused* | 11 (27.5) | 6 (27.3) | 0.985 |
| Lung calcification | 33 (82.5) | ||
| Pleurisy | 17 (42.5) | 7 (31.8) | 0.409 |
| Pleural thickening | 11 (27.5) | 3 (13.6) | 0.212 |
| Lung cavity | 17 (42.5) | 2 (9.1)** | 0.009† |
| Bronchiectasis | 13 (32.5) | 6 (27.3) | 0.669 |
| Pneumothorax | 1 (2.5) | 2 (9.1) | 0.285 |
| Anti-TB therapy | 33 (82.5) | 5 (18.2) | < 0.0001 |
| Corticosteroid therapy | 7 (17.5) | 1 (4.6) | 0.240 |
| Sulfasalazine | 16 (40) | 8 (36.4) | 0.779 |
| Bamboo spine | 19 (47.5) | 13 (59.1) | 0.382 |
↵* Lower and/or middle with apical lung fibrosis.
↵** Lung cavity attributed to AS inflammatory entity due to persistent lung cavity lesions despite anti-TB treatment.
† Significant difference in lung cavity incidence in apical lung fibrosis caused by pulmonary TB infection as compared with AS inflammation entity (p = 0.009, OR 7.4, 95% CI 1.5–36.0).