FRI0217 Prospective Study of Pregnant Women with Axial Spondyloarthritis: Is Asdas Adequate to Measure Disease Activity in this Population?
Authors: J. Madruga Dias, M.M. Costa, L. Pinto, L. Graça, J.A. Pereira da Silva
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2015)

<h3>Background</h3> The effect of pregnancy on spondyloarthropathies such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) or axial psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is not clear. Some reports claim a beneficial effect during pregnancy [1] while others mention there is no particular effect or that there might be an aggravation of symptoms [2,3,4]. The methods of measuring disease activity in AS are not yet validated for pregnancy and their applicability in this context is questionable. C-Reactive protein (CRP) and especially erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) are increased during normal pregnancy [5,6] and this might affect disease activity scores and their interpretation. Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Score (ASDAS) is not yet proven to correlate with disease activity in AS and other spondyloarthropathies with axial involvement. <h3>Objectives</h3> To study and characterize a population of women with axial spondyloarthritis before, during pregnancy and post-delivery and to evaluate disease activity indexes in this population. <h3>Methods</h3> We prospectively evaluated 30 women, with a mean age of 31.5±4.7 years, 25 with the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis and 5 with axial psoriatic arthritis. AS/PsA patients were considered active if the visual analogue scale (VAS) of nocturnal back pain and fatigue ≥30 plus morning stiffness &gt;30 minutes, and/or ≥1 swollen or tender joint or ≥2 active enthesitis or dactylitis or Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) ≥10 or exacerbation of associated inflammatory bowel disease. ASDAS-CRP/ESR were calculated. Statistical treatment was performed using SPSS-20. <h3>Results</h3> Before conception, disease was active in 3 out of 30 AS/PsA patients, with an overall mean ASDAS-ESR/CRP of 0.49/0.11. During pregnancy there was an increase in disease activity until the 3rd trimester (p=0,005) and after labour (p=0,025). During the 2nd trimester two thirds of all patients had an active disease. Ultrasound-verified hip synovitis was found in nine patients, all symptomatic and requiring prednisolone treatment. Eigth women stopped working due to disease activity. ASDAS-ESR/CRP was correlated with disease activity (p=0,003, p=0,012, respectively). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Disease activity during pregnancy is increased in AS and axial PsA. ASDAS seems like a promising tool for the follow-up of these patients during pregnancy. <h3>References</h3> Lui NL, Haroon N, Carty A, Shen H, Cook RJ, Shanmugarajah S, Gladman DD, Inman RD. Effect of pregnancy on ankylosing spondylitis: a case-control study. J Rheumatol. 2011 Nov;38(11):2442-4. Østensen M, Villiger PM, Förger F. Interaction of pregnancy and autoimmune rheumatic disease. Autoimmun Rev. 2012 May;11(6-7):A437-46. Ostensen M. The effect of pregnancy on ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Am J Reprod Immunol. 1992 Oct-Dec;28(3-4):235-7. Gromnica-Ihle E, Ostensen M. Pregnancy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory spondylarthropathies. Z Rheumatol. 2006 May;65(3):209-12,214-6. van den Broe NR, Letsky EA. Pregnancy and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. BJOG. 2001 Nov;108(11):1164-7 Salawu L, Durosinmi MA. Erythrocyte rate and plasma viscosity in health and disease. Niger J Med. 2001 Jan-Mar;10(1):11-3. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared