STUDY OF PULMONARY FUNCTIONS AND EXERCISE TOLERANCE CHANGES IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

Abstract

The aun of this work was to study the relationship between pulmonary function and cardiopulmonary exerctse testing (CPET) in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Twenty AS patients were included in this study. They were diagnosed •according to the Modified New York Criteria. Their ages ranged from 20 to 60 years with a mean of 36. I ± 8.7 years. The disease duration ringed from 3 to 30 years with a mean of I 0.55 ± 7.95 years. Twenty age and sex matched healthy subjects s.:rvcd as a control group. Exclusion criteria included coexisting cardiac and respiratory disease or the presence of severe arthritis in the lower Limb which interfered with exercising on the ergometer. The BASFI score was used for the assessment of functional ability in patients with AS. Ail patients and controls were subjected to the following: • Measurements of weight, height, and body mass index. • Chest expansion was measured at the fourth intercostal space. • Flexion of the lumbar spine was assessed by schober's test. • Pulmonary function tests included measurement of: - Vital capacity (VC) and VC% predicted: - Forced vital capacity (FVC) and FVC% predicted. - Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEVl) and FEY!% predicted - FEY 1 / FVC ratio.