Characteristics of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (n = 335) included in study.
| Characteristics | Mean (SD) or Percent |
|---|---|
| Age at onset, yrs | 23.2 (7.7) |
| Disease duration, yrs | 22.4 (11.2) |
| Male sex | 70 |
| HLA-B27 positive | 89 |
| Psoriasis | 9 |
| IBD | 6 |
| Uveitis | 34 |
| BASFI | 3.4 (2.1) |
| Schober’s test, cm | 3.5 (1.5) |
| Chest expansion, cm | 4.5 (2.1) |
| Hemoglobin | 13.8 (1.3) |
| ESR, mm | 19.3 (12.2) |
| WBC, 10e9 | 7.6 (2.0) |
| Creatinine, μmol/l | 82 (13) |
| TNF-α, pg/ml | 151 (425) |
IBD: irritable bowel disease; BASFI: Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; WBC: white blood (cell) count; TNF: tumor necrosis factor.