Objective To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate (MTX) in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were identified from CENTRAL (The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2005); MEDLINE (1966 to November 2005); EMBASE (1980 to November 2005); CINAHL (1982 to November 2005). The quality of included trials was evaluated. Data were extracted by two reviewers independently using a specially designed extraction form. The Cochrane Collaboration’s RevMan 4.2 software was used for data analysis. Results Three trials involving 116 patients were included. One 12-month trial compared naproxen plus MTX with naproxen alone. Two 24-week trials compared different doses of MTX with placebo. No statistically significant differences were found for the primary outcome measures of physical function, pain, spinal mobility, peripheral joints/entheses pain, swelling and tenderness, changes in spine radiographs and patient and physician global assessment. The response rate in one trial showed statistically significant benefits of 36% in the MTX group compared with the placebo group (RR 3.18, 95% CI 1.03 to 9.79). This response rate was a composite index including assessment of morning stiffness, physical well-being, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI), health assessment questionnaire for spondyloarthropathies (HAQ-S), and physician and patient global assessment. However, no single outcome showed a statistically significant difference between the MTX and placebo groups when endpoint results were compared. Therefore, this benefit of MTX was questionable. No serious side effects were reported in these studies. Conclusions There is no enough evidence to show any benefit of MTX in the treatment of AS. High quality randomized controlled trials of longer duration and with larger sample size are needed to clarify the effect of MTX on AS.
ObjectiveTo introduce the application of Photoshop CS16.0 (PS) software in preoperative osteotomy design of ankylosing spondylitis kyphosis (ASK), and to investigate applied values of the preoperative design. MethodsBetween March 2009 and March 2013, 21 cases of ASK were treated through preoperative osteotomy design by using PS software. There were 16 males and 5 females, aged from 23 to 50 years (mean, 34.2 years). The deformity included thoracolumbar kyphosis in 14 cases, thoracic kyphosis in 2 cases, and lumbar kyphosis in 5 cases. The ultimate osteotomy angle of preoperative plans and the location and extent of osteotomy were determined by the osteotomy design, which guided operation procedures of the surgeon. The actual osteotomy angle was obtained by measuring Cobb angle of osteotomy segment before and after operation. The sagittal parameters of spine and pelvis including global kyphosis (GK), lumbar lordosis (LL), sagittal vertical axis (SVA), pelvic incidence (PI), pelvic tilt (PT), and chin brow-vertical angle (CBVA) were measured at preoperation, at 1 week after operation, and last follow-up. The clinical outcomes were assessed by simplified Chinese Scoliosis Research Society-22 (SRS-22) questionnaire and Oswestry disability index (ODI). ResultsNo complications occurred in the other cases except 1 case of dural tear during operation and 1 case of nerve injury after operation, and primary healing of incision was obtained. All patients were followed up 14 to 45 months (mean, 26.3 months). The SRS-22 and ODI scores at 1 week after operation and last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative scores (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 1 week and last follow-up (P>0.05). The preoperative planned osteotomy angle and the postoperative actual osteotomy angle were (34.2±10.5)° and (33.7±9.7)° respectively, showing no significant difference (t=0.84, P=0.42). The CBVA, GK, SVA, PT, and LL were significantly improved when compared with the preoperative values (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found between at 1 week and last follow-up (P>0.05). At last follow-up, no failures of internal fixation was found, and bony fusion was obtained. ConclusionThe preoperative osteotomy design by using PS software can precisely recover the spinal sagittal balance and horizontal angle of view, so it can effectively avoid excessive correction and insufficient correction of the deformity and obtain good effectiveness in treating ASK.
ObjectiveTo investigate the clinical and radiographic results of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the treatment of hip arthrosis in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). MethodsA retrospective analysis was made on the clinical data from 131 patients (195 hips) who underwent THA for AS between September 2001 and August 2011 with a follow-up period of more than 2 years. There were 100 males (152 hips) and 31 females (43 hips), aged 17-69 years (mean, 33.7 years). The average interval between AS onset and THA was 13.7 years (range, 1-50 years). The left hips were involved in 30 cases, the right hips in 37 cases, and bilateral hips in 64 cases. Preoperative Harris hip score was 18.0±13.7; the sum passive range of motion was (36.2±51.2)°; and the hip passive-flexion arc was (23.4±32.6)°. In 175 hips with passive flexion of less than 90°, 134 hips had flexion contracture. Based on preoperative X-ray films and CT scan, 195 hips were divided into the non-ankylosed subgroup (86 hips), fibrous ankylosed subgroup (43 hips), and bony ankylosed subgroup (66 hips); and the recovery of hip function was compared between subgroups after operation. ResultsIntraoperative complications included linear fractures of femoral calcar in 4 hips, fractures of acetabular posterior column in 1 hip, femoral shaft fractures in 2 hips, and iatrogenic sciatic nerve injury in 3 hips; postoperative complications included anterior dislocation in 2 hips. The average follow-up period was 51.3 months (range, 24-143 months). Bone healing was observed at 3-6 months after operation (mean, 3.9 months). At last follow-up, the average Harris hip score increased to 86.4±14.1, the sum passive range of motion increased to (202.0±28.0)°, and the hip passive-flexion arc increased to (93.2±15.3)°, all showing significant differences when compared with preoperative ones (P<0.05). Based on a four-class scale for subjective satisfaction, the patients were very satisfied, satisfied, and not satisfied with the results of THA in 100, 80, and 15 hips respectively. X-ray films showed radiolucent line (<2 mm) in 5 acetabular components (zones I and II); heterotopic ossification was observed in 49 hips after THA. There was no significant difference in the Harris hip score among 3 subgroups after THA at last follow-up (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the degree of passive flexion in the fibrous ankylosed subgroup and bony ankylosed subgroup was significantly lower than that in the non-ankylosed subgroup (P<0.05), and the sum passive range of motion in the fibrous ankylosed subgroup was significantly lower than that in the non-ankylosed subgroup (P<0.05), but no significant difference was found in the other variables among the 3 sub groups (P>0.05). ConclusionFor severe hip arthrosis in patients with AS, the overall outcomes after THA are ideal with a good midterm prosthetic survivorship, a low complication rate, and a high satisfaction of patients. However the hip function after THA is still less satisfactory.
Objective To summarize the mid- to long-term effectiveness of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in the treatment of the involved hips in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and to investigate its influencing factors. Methods Between March 1999 and May 2011, 32 patients (42 hips) with AS and involved hip underwent THA. There were 26 males and 6 females with a mean age of 39 years (range, 20-78 years). The disease duration ranged from 2 to 41 years, with a median of 10 years. Metal-on-polyethylene bearings were used in 19 hips, and ceramic-on-ceramic bearings in 23 hips. The diameter of prosthetic femoral head was 36 mm in 15 hips and was 28 mm in 27 hips; and all the prostheses were fixed biologically. The Harris score, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, and total range of motion (ROM) of the hip were compared between at pre- and post-operation to evaluate the effectiveness. The DeLee zone was used for describing acetabular prosthesis, the Gruen zone for describing femoral prosthesis, and the Brooker criterion for evaluating the heterotopic ossification. Results Healing of incision by first intention was achieved in all patients after operation. There was no complication of anesthetic accident, infection, or neurovascular injury. Twenty-nine cases (39 hips) were followed up 5-17 years (mean, 9 years). Anterior dislocation of hip joint occurred in 2 hips of 24 hips (28 mm diameter), but did not in 15 hips (36 mm diameter). At last follow-up, the Harris score, VAS score, and the total hip ROM were significantly improved (P<0.05). The shorter the disease duration was, the higher postoperative Harris score and the greater postoperative total hip ROM would be (P<0.05); the bigger diameter of prosthetic femoral head was, the greater postoperative total hip ROM would be (P<0.05). All the acetabular components and femoral stems were well fixed at last follow-up. The osteolysis rate around the acetabular cup in the metal-on-polyethylene bearing group (50%, 9/18) was higher than that in the ceramic-on-ceramic bearing group (0, 0/21). No prosthetic loosening was observed in 2 groups. Seven hips were found to have heterotopic ossification, including 5 hips of Brooker grade I and 2 hips of Brooker grade II. Conclusion THA is an effective method to treat involved hips in patients with AS; especially for patients having shorter duration of the disease, THA shows better effectiveness when the bigger diameter of prosthetic femoral head and ceramic-on-ceramic bearing are used.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the effectiveness and safety of thalidomide for ankylosing spondylitis (AS). MethodsDatabases including Ovid MEDLINE (1946 to 2014.2.1), EMbase (1947 to 2014.2.1), CENTRAL (Issue 1, 2014), CBM (1978 to 2014.2.1), CNKI (1994 to 2014.2.1), WanFang Data (1980 to 2014.2.1) and VIP (1989 to 2014.2.1) were searched for randomized controlled trials about the effectiveness and safety of thalidomide for AS. Two reviewers independently screened literature according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed methodological quality of included studies. Meta-analysis was then conducted using RevMan 5.2 software. ResultsSeven RCTs were included involving 544 patients. The results of meta-analysis showed that, compared with the blank group, thalidomide increased clinical remission, but it showed no obvious advantage in Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), and secondary outcome index, with an increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out. Compared with SSZ, thalidomide increased the rate of maintaining remission when it was used in the maintenance treatment after the patients attained ASAS20; and for other outcomes it was similar to SSZ. Compared with NSAIDs, thalidomide increased the rate of maintaining remission when it was used in the maintenance treatment after the patients attained ASAS20; it increased clinical remission; for secondary outcomes it was similar to NSAIDs; and it had a higher incidence of adverse reaction as well as an increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out. ConclusionCompared with the blank group, thalidomide increases clinical remission, with an obviously-increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out. Compared with SSZ, thalidomide increases the rate of maintaining remission when it is used in the maintenance treatment after patients attain ASAS20. Compared with NSAIDs, thalidomide increases the rate of maintaining remission when it is used in the maintenance treatment after patients attain ASAS20; it also increases clinical remission; but it has a higher incidence of adverse reaction as well as an increased total rate of withdrawal/drop-out. Due to limited quantity and quality of the included studies, the above conclusion needs to be verified by conducting more high quality studies.
Objective To assess the midterm follow-up outcomes of total hip arthroplasty (THA) for the treatment of patients with juvenile-onset ankylosing spondylitis (JAS). Methods The clinical data of 81 patients (127 hips) with JAS (age≤16 years, JAS group) and 267 patients (391 hips) with adult onset ankylosing spondylitis (AAS) (age>16 years, AAS group) between January 2004 and March 2018 were retrospectively analysed. The baseline demographics, clinical, radiographic, and laboratory parameters were collected. Before operation and at last follow-up, the overall disease activity [Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI)] and function status [Bath ankylosing spondylitis functional index (BASFI)], hip subjective score [Harris hip score (HHS)] and objective score [12-item short form health survey (SF-12), including physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS)], and patient satisfaction for THA were reviewed. The major orthopedic complications, including periprosthetic infection, dislocation, periprosthetic fractures, and poor incision healing, were also recorded during the follow-up period. Results The comparison of preoperative baseline parameters showed that the body mass, body mass index, age of onset, age of surgery, disease duration, and the proportion of combined smoking history in the JAS group were significantly lower than those in the AAS group (P<0.05), the proportion of bilateral surgeries, proportion of uveitis, proportion of combined family history, C-reactive protein, albumin, and preoperative BASFI were significantly higher than those in the AAS group (P<0.05). Both groups were followed up. The follow-up time in the JAS group was 29-199 months, with an average of 113 months; in the AAS group was 35-199 months, with an average of 98 months. Incisions in both groups healed by first intention. During the follow-up period, there were 1 case of periprosthetic fracture, 1 case of dislocation, and 1 case of ceramic fragmentation in the JAS group, 1 case of periprosthetic infection and 6 cases of periprosthetic fracture in the AAS group. There was no significant difference in the incidence of complications between the two groups (P>0.05). At last follow-up, the BASDAI, BASFI, SF-12 MCS, SF-12 PCS, and HHS score of the two groups were significantly improved when compared with those before operation (P<0.05); but there was no significan difference in the difference of the above parameters before and after operation and the patient satisfaction between the two groups (P>0.05). Conclusion The midterm follow-up outcomes of THA for the treatment of JAS patients were reliable. A low age at disease onset did not exert a significant negative effect on THA reconstruction for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis.
Objective To explore the application progress and clinical value of digital technologies in the surgical treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods By systematically reviewing domestic and international literature, the study summarized the specific application scenarios, operational procedures, and technical advantages of digital technologies [including preoperative three-dimensional (3D) planning, intraoperative real-time navigation, robot-assisted surgery, and 3D printing] in AS surgery, and analyzed their impact on surgical accuracy, complication rates, and clinical outcomes. ResultsDigital technologies significantly improve the precision and safety of AS surgery. Preoperative 3D planning enables personalized surgical protocols; intraoperative navigation systems dynamically adjusts surgical trajectories, reducing the risk of iatrogenic injury; robot-assisted surgery can minimize human errors and enhance implant positioning accuracy; 3D-printed anatomical models and guides optimize the correction of complex spinal deformities. Furthermore, the combined applications of these technologies shorten operative time, reduce intraoperative blood loss, decrease postoperative complications (e.g., infection, nerve injury), and accelerate functional recovery.ConclusionThrough multidimensional integration and innovation, digital technologies provide a precise and minimally invasive solution for AS surgical treatment. Future research should focus on their synergy with biomaterials and intelligent algorithms to further refine surgical strategies and improve long-term prognosis.
ObjectivesTo systematically review the proportion of Tregs in peripheral blood of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and its relationship with Treg's diffrent phenotypes.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect case-control studies on peripheral Tregs of AS patients from inception to November 31st, 2018. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Then, meta-analysis was performed by using Stata 12.0 software.ResultsA total of 61 case-control studies involving 2 466 AS patients and 1 879 controls were included. The results of meta-analysis showed that: the proportion of peripheral Tregs of patients with AS was significantly lower than that of the normal control (SMD=−0.905, 95%CI −1.294 to −0.517, P<0.000 1), and the proportion of Tregs in the disease-active group was significantly lower than that in disease-inactive group (SMD=−0.928, 95%CI −1.431 to −0.425, P<0.000 1). The proportion of CD4+CD25+FOXP3+Tregs and CD4+CD25+CD127low/−Tregs were lower in AS patients than that in control subjects (SMD=−2.547, 95%CI −3.521 to −1.573, P<0.000 1; SMD=−0.709, 95% CI −1.056 to −0.362, P<0.000 1). The proportion of Tregs defined by CD4+CD25low/−FOXP3+ was higher in AS patients (SMD=0.683, 95%CI 0.161 to 1.206, P=0.01). There was no significant difference betweew other phenotypes of Tregs groups.roups.ConclusionsThe reduction of Tregs may be one of the important reasons for the occurrence and development of AS, which may provide a new approach for the diagnosis and treatment of AS.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the application and effectiveness of bilateral total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty in the treatment of severe inflammatory arthropathies. MethodsBetween September 2008 and September 2015, 31 patients with severe inflammatory arthropathies were treated with bilateral total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty. Of 31 cases, 22 were male and 9 were female with an average age of 30 years (range, 20 to 41 years); there were 15 cases of rheumatoid arthritis and 16 cases of ankylosing spondylitis with an average onset age of 14 years (range, 5-28 years); all 4 ankylosed joints were observed in 11 cases, 3 ankylosed joints in 2 cases, 2 ankylosed joints in 6 cases, 1 ankylosed joint in 1 case, and no ankylosed joint in 11 cases. Before operation, the hip range of motion (ROM) value was (17.82±28.18)°, and the knee ROM value score was (26.45±30.18)°; the hip Harris score was 29.64±11.58, and the hospital for special surgery (HSS) score was 27.07±11.04. The patients were grouped and compared in accordance with etiology and ankylosed joint. ResultsOne-stage arthroplasty was performed in 1 case, two-stage arthroplasty in 22 cases, three-stage arthroplasty in 7 cases, and four-stage arthroplasty in 1 case. The total operation time was 325-776 minutes; the total blood loss was 900-3 900 mL; the total transfusion volume was 2 220-8 070 mL; and the total hospitalization time was 21-65 days. The patients were followed up 12-94 months (mean, 51 months). The hip and knee ROM values, Harris score and HSS score at last follow-up were significantly improved when compared with preoperative ones (P < 0.05). The subjective satisfaction degree was good in 16 cases, moderate in 10 cases, and poor in 5 cases. Periprosthetic infection occurred in 2 cases (3 knees), joint stiffness in 3 cases (6 knees), joint instability in 1 case (1 knee), leg length discrepancy of > 2 cm in 2 cases, and flexion deformity of 10° in 1 case (1 knee). The hip and knee ROM values, Harris score and HSS score showed no significant difference between patients with ankylosing spondylitis and patients rheumatoid arthritis at last follow-up (P > 0.05). The hip and knee ROM values of the patients with ankylosed joint were significantly lower than those of patients with no ankylosed joint (P < 0.05); the Harris score and HSS score of the patients with ankylosed joint were lower than those of patients with no ankylosed joint, but no significant difference was found (P > 0.05). ConclusionA combination of bilateral hip and knee arthroplasty is an efficient treatment for severe lower extremities deformity, arthralgia and poor quality of life caused by inflammatory arthropathies. However, the postoperative periprosthetic infection and stiffness of knee are important complications influencing the effectiveness of operation.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the diagnostic value of HLA-B27 for ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in China. MethodsWe searched PubMed, The Cochrane Library (Issue 4, 2015), EMbase, CNKI, CBM, VIP and WanFang data from inception to April 2015, to collect diagnostic studies about HLA-B27 for AS in China. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the methodological quality of included studies. Then meta-analysis was performed using Meta-Disc 1.4 software. Pooled sensitivity (Sen), specificity (Spe), positive likelihood ratio (+LR), negative likelihood ratio (-LR), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) of summary receiver operating characteristic curve (SROC) were calculated to assess the diagnostic value of individual diagnostic tests. Subgroup analysis was stratified by detection methods of HLA-B27. ResultsA total of 18 studies involving 22 comparisons, with 3 670 AS patients and 28 389 health controls were finally included. The results of meta-analysis showed that the pooled Sen, Spe, +LR,-LR, and DOR were 0.92 (95%CI 0.90 to 0.93), 0.94 (95%CI 0.94 to 0.95), 16.22 (95%CI 13.63 to 19.29), 0.08 (95%CI 0.06 to 0.10), and 256.49 (95%CI 168.25 to 391.00), respectively. The AUC of SROC was 0.98. The result of subgroup analysis showed that there was no significant difference for flow cytometry (FCM) and Polymerase Chain Reaction with Sequence-Specific Primer (PCR-SSP) in HLA-B27 detection for AS (Z=7.915, P=0.960). ConclusionCurrent evidence indicates that HLA-B27 detection is of great diagnostic value for AS. At present, FCM and PCR-SSP shows no significant difference in HLA-B27 detection for AS. Due to the limitation of the quality of included studies, and the exclusion of the suspected patients, higher quality studies are needed to verify the above conclusion.