AB0518 ATHEROSCLEROTIC RISK IN PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: BIOMARKERS VERSUS SCORE
Authors: R. Dhahri, S. Miri, M. Slouma, B. Louzir, L. Metoui, I. Gharsallah
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: Chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases are associated with a high cardiovascular risk. However, data in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are still limited. Objectives: The aim of our study was to assess the atherosclerotic risk in patients with AS, by comparing the Systematic coronary risk evaluation: SCORE, with biomarkers of atherosclerosis: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), LDL/HDL ratio and apoliprotein A1 (Apo A) /apolipoprotein B (Apo B) ratio. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional observational study of 40 patients with AS, over a period of 3 months. Socio-demographic data, clinical characteristics of the disease, as well as biological, radiological and therapeutic data were collected for each patient. Coagulated blood samples were collected following a 12-hour fast. Cardiovascular risk was considered high for Hs-CRP&gt;3.0 mg/L [1], LDL/HDL&gt; 3.5 in men and 3.0 in women [2], and ApoB/ApoA level&gt;0.9 [3,4]. SCORE was calculated for all patients. Results: The mean age of our population was 44±10 years. Male predominance was noted with a sex ratio =11.1. The mean ASDAS-CRP and BASDAI levels were 2.1±0.95 and 2.25±1.33. Thirty-two percent of the patients had a high risk of cardiovascular diseases according to Hs-CRP level, with an average of 10.7 mg/L. The mean LDL/HDL ratio was high in twenty-two percent of the patients. The mean value of ApoA1 and ApoB was respectively 1.3 g/l. and 0.9 g/l. Low values of Apo A1 were determined in 12.5% of the subjects, and high values of ApoB were found in 15% of subjects. The mean value of ApoA/ApoB ratio was 0.7. Ten percent of the studied subjects had an unfavourable ApoB/ApoA1. The predicted 10-year risk of CV mortality according to SCORE was high in 5% of the patients, very high in 2.5% and moderate in 35% of them. Over 17 patients with moderate, high and very high risk according to SCORE: Four patients (23.5%) had high LDL/HDL ratio, 8 (47%) had high waist/hip ratio, 5 (29.4%) had high Hs-CRP level, and 2 (11.7%) had high ApoB/ApoA ratio. We found ApoB/ApoA to be positively correlated with Hs-CRP (r=0.31, p=0.05). The SCORE was correlated to the age at the onset of the disease (r=0.78, p&lt;10 -3 ). Conclusion: The atherosclerotic risk in our population ranged from 10 to 43%. SCORE presented with the highest percentage, making it more suitable for mass screening. Biomarkers on the other hand are more precise. Hs-CRP is biomarker to be included in daily practice, even when AS is in remission. Accuracy of the apoB/apoA ratio is significantly great and appears to be associated with inflammation. References: [1]Myers GL, Rifai N, Tracy RP, Roberts WL, Alexander RW, Biasucci LM, et al. CDC/AHA Workshop on Markers of Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease: Application to Clinical and Public Health Practice: Report From the Laboratory Science Discussion Group. Circulation [Internet]. 2004 Dec 21 [cited 2020 Oct 20];110(25). [2]Munoz. Lipoprotein ratios: Physiological significance and clinical usefulness in cardiovascular prevention. VHRM. 2009 Sep;757. [3]Walldius G, Jungner I, Holme I, Aastveit AH, Kolar W, Steiner E. High apolipoprotein B, low apolipoprotein A-I, and improvement in the prediction of fatal myocardial infarction (AMORIS study): a prospective study. The Lancet. 2001 Dec;358(9298):2026–33. Disclosure of Interests: None declared.