ABSTRACT

Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease that primarily affects the axial spine. Involvement of the sacroiliac joint is a hallmark of AS. Extra-skeletal organs involvement is also common in AS. AS is also associated with an increased risk of CVD which constitutes one of the main causes of death in these patients. AS is a complex immune-mediated condition whose pathogenesis is not fully understood. It is assumed that ROS is a major event in inflamed tissues leading to AS. Albumin acts as an antioxidant by removing oxidative stress products. Ischemia modified albumin (IMA) had gained wide acceptance as a systemic biomarker of oxidative stress.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum level of IMA in patients with AS and to correlate the IMA serum level with disease activity indices, and cIMT.

Subjects and Methods: This cross-sectional study included 40 AS patients and 40 matched healthy controls. In AS patients, the activity parameters (BASDAI score, ASDAS-ESR, ASDAS-CRP, ESR and serum CRP levels) as well as BASFI score and BASMI score and treatment regimen were assessed. In addition, the cIMT and was measured for AS patients and controls. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) was also investigated.