Lung parenchymal changes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Pulmonology
• Medical Imaging
• Thoracic Diseases

Background:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton.
• Pulmonary involvement in AS is increasingly recognized but often subclinical.
• High-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) is a sensitive tool for detecting subtle lung changes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the prevalence and spectrum of lung parenchymal changes in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
• To utilize high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for detailed thoracic assessment in AS.
• To contribute to the understanding of pulmonary manifestations in AS.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 78 ankylosing spondylitis patients (average age 33.87 years; 53 males/25 females) was studied.
• Patients underwent detailed lung HRCT examinations, excluding pneumonia and tuberculosis.
• A comprehensive list of parenchymal and airway findings was assessed.

Main Results:

• Lung parenchymal changes were identified in 46 (59%) of the AS patients.
• The most frequent findings included parenchymal bands (27%), interlobular septal thickening (12%), and emphysema (12%).
• Other observed changes included apical fibrosis, ground-glass opacities, and parenchymal micronodules.

Conclusions:

• This study reports the largest cohort to date evaluating lung parenchymal changes in AS using HRCT.
• The observed rate of lung parenchymal changes was slightly lower than previously reported in the literature.
• These findings underscore the importance of thoracic imaging in the comprehensive management of AS patients.