Sonographic Comparison of Neck Extensor Muscle Thickness of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients with Healthy Volunteers

Abstract

Introduction This study examines the neck extensor muscle thickness of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) by comparing them with healthy volunteers. It also aims to evaluate the relationship between muscle thickness and disease activity, functional parameters, neck disability and quality of life in patients with AxSpA.

Method In this cross-sectional study, 30 patients with AS and 30 patients with nr-AxSpA who were admitted to a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation outpatient clinic were included consecutively. Thirty healthy participants were included as a control group. The thickness of muscles was measured bilaterally by ultrasound and the muscle thickness average was recorded. All patients with axSpA were asked to complete the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), the Ankylosing spondylitis Quality of Life (AsQoL) scale and the Neck Disability Index (NDI).

Results Mean patient age was 42.36±10.0 in the AS group, 38.13±7.94 in the nr-axSpA group and 39.06±8.25 in the healthy group. A statistically significant decrease was found in multifidus, semispinalis capitis, semispinalis cervicis and splenius capitis muscle thickness in AS patients compared with the healthy group, and in semispinalis cervicis muscle thickness in nr-axSpA patients compared with the healthy group. However, when trapezius muscle thickness was compared between the groups, no statistical difference was found. There was a significant negative correlation between neck extensor muscle thickness and age, BASDAI, NDI and AsQoL in patients with axSpA.

Conclusion The thickness of the neck extensor muscles is decreased in patients with AxSpA compared with healthy individuals, and this situation can be reliably detected by ultrasound.

Zusammenfassung

Einleitung Diese Studie untersucht die Dicke der Halsstreckmuskulatur von Patienten mit ankylosierender Spondylitis (AS) und nicht-röntgenologischer axialer Spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) im Vergleich mit gesunden Probanden. Des Weiteren wird die Beziehung zwischen Muskeldicke und Krankheitsaktivität, funktionellen Parametern, Behinderung durch Nackenbeschwerden und Lebensqualität bei Patienten mit AxSpA bewertet.

Methode In diese Querschnittsstudie wurden 30 Patienten mit AS und 30 Patienten mit nr-AxSpA, die in die Ambulanz für Physikalische Medizin und Rehabilitation aufgenommen wurden, konsekutiv eingeschlossen. Als Kontrollgruppe wurden 30 gesunde Teilnehmer eingeschlossen. Die Dicke der Muskeln wurde bilateral durch Ultraschall gemessen und die Durchschnittswerte wurden aufgezeichnet. Alle Patienten mit axSpa wurden gebeten, den Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), den Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), den Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI), die Ankylosing Spondylitis Quality of Life (AsQoL) Scale und den Neck Disability Index (NDI) auszufüllen.

Ergebnisse Das Durchschnittsalter der Teilnehmer betrug 42,36±10,0 Jahre in der AS-Gruppe, 38,13±7,94 Jahre in der nr-axSpA-Gruppe und 39,06±8,25 Jahre in der gesunden Gruppe. Bei AS-Patienten zeigte sich im Vergleich zur gesunden Gruppe eine statistisch signifikante Abnahme der Muskeldicke des M. multifidus, M. semispinalis capitis, M. semispinalis cervicis und M. splenius capitis und bei nr-AxSpA-Patienten des M. semispinalis cervicis. Der Vergleich der Trapeziusmuskeldicke zwischen den Gruppen ergab keinen statistischen Unterschied. Bei Patienten mit axSpA bestand eine signifikante negative Korrelation zwischen der Dicke der Nackenstreckmuskulatur und dem Alter, BASDAI, NDI und AsQoL.

Schlussfolgerung Die Dicke der Nackenstreckmuskulatur ist bei Patienten mit AxSpA im Vergleich zu Gesunden verringert, was sonographisch zuverlässig feststellbar ist.

Key words

ankylosing spondylitis - non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis - neck muscle - ultrasound - axial spondyloarthritis

Schlüsselwörter

Axiale Spondyloarthritis - Spondylitis ankylosans - nicht röntgenologische axiale Spondyloarthritis - Ultraschall - Nackenmuskulatur

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