[Clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis--epidemiologic study].

The aim of the study was to establish some clinical features of ankylosing spondylitis in an epidemiological study using a mailed questionnaire. The questionnaire was sent to 185 patients with ankylosing spondylitis who were treated at the Department for Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology. The answers were obtained from 92 patients (49.7%). In the studied cohort there were 60 men and 32 women. The average age of all patients were 51.6 +/- 11.8 yrs. In most of the patients (69 or 75%) the duration of ankylosing spondylitis is more than 15 years. The diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis was established on average 6.5 years after the beginning of symptoms. Patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis more than 15 years reported that the worst period of the disease was the starting 10 years. The main symptoms of the disease are stiffness and pain. The aggravation of pain occurs with enhanced physical activity as well as with prolonged rest--Painful swelling of one or more joints of 3 weeks duration had 63.7%, and more than 3 weeks duration 40.7% patients. There was no difference in occurrence of painful swelling extravertebral joints regarding to duration of the disease (P > 0.05). The most often affected joints were hips and shoulders. Eyes inflammation was reported by 63 patients, and unspecified enterocolitis had 16 patients.