Aims: To examine statistical correlation between mSASSS and serum levels of testosterone in males suffering from AS.
Background: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic progressive inflammatory rheumatic disease primarily involving sacroiliac joints and spine. Structural damage, caused by AS, manifests with development of vertebral syndesmophytes and can be calculated as units of modified Spinal Ankylosing Spondylitis Syndesmophyte Score (mSASSS). The rate of growth of spinal syndesmophytes differs among individual AS patients, while male patients develop significantly more structural damage compared to females in general.
Methods: Twenty males with AS known for at least 5 years (average disease duration 12.8 years) and aged between 25 to 40 years donated 5 ml of peripheral blood for serum testosterone assay, and underwent X-ray films of cervical and lumbar spine. The mSASSS was calculated and correlation with serum testosterone levels was examined using Pearson correlation test.
Results: The mSASSS values of patients included in the final analysis ranged from 0-14 units and testosterone levels ranged from 8.4-25.5 nmol/L. No significant correlation was found between mSASSS values and testosterone levels in this cohort.
Conclusions: This study did not find statistical correlation between mSASSS and serum levels of testosterone in males suffering from AS.