[The nature of the cardiac pathology in ankylosing spondylarthritis (Bechterew's disease)].

Specific characteristics and localization of histomorphological alterations observed in Bechterew's disease (BD) cause specific features in clinical pattern of the disease. Combined cardiological examination of 49 BD patients revealed in them: valvular disease (6 cases), aortal insufficiency (8.2%), left ventricular dilatation (12%), mitral prolapse (16.3%), aortal dilatation (14%). Two-dimensional echocardiography registered typical subaortic protrusion in 3 out of 30 examinees. At ECG examination of 46 patients atrioventricular block was registered in 4, bundle-branch block in 7, affected conductivity in 10 patients. In complicating amyloidosis one can observe a typical picture of amyloid cardiac infiltration.