Ankylosing spondylitis without axial progression: analysis of associated factors.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate clinical factors associated with the absence of radiographic progression in patients with spondylitis.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study included 672 patients. All patients presented a disease evolution of more than 15 years. Patients were classified as with radiographic spinal involvement versus without radiographic spinal involvement. We included clinical variables potentially related to null radiological progression.

RESULTS

Seventy-five patients had no radiographic involvement. These patients were predominantly female, had a lower erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and a lower C-reactive protein level. Multivariate analysis showed an association with the female sex and low ESR.

CONCLUSION

Clinical factors associated with this lack of progression were female sex and low ESR.