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Severe main coronary artery disease in a young woman with ankylosing spondylitis

Turgut Karabag1, Ibrahim Akpinar, Riza Sarper Okten

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Karaelmas University, Turkey. turgutkarabag@yahoo.com

Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan)
|September 20, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients face double the death rate, mainly from cardiovascular issues like heart attacks. This case highlights severe coronary artery disease in a young AS patient, linked to inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiology
  • Inflammatory Diseases

Background:

  • Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is associated with a significantly increased mortality rate, primarily due to cardiovascular complications.
  • Patients with AS exhibit a 2-3 fold higher prevalence of myocardial infarction compared to the general population.
  • Chronic inflammation in AS is implicated as a key driver of excess cardiovascular risk.

Observation:

  • This report details a case of a 27-year-old woman diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.
  • The patient presented with severe coronary artery disease.
  • Diagnosis was confirmed using computed tomography imaging.

Findings:

  • The case illustrates a young patient with AS developing severe coronary artery disease.
  • The findings underscore the potential for significant cardiovascular burden even in younger individuals with AS.
  • Computer tomography effectively visualized the extent of coronary artery disease.

Implications:

  • Early and aggressive cardiovascular risk management is crucial for patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
  • Further research into the mechanisms linking AS inflammation to atherosclerosis is warranted.
  • This case emphasizes the need for heightened cardiovascular surveillance in AS patients, irrespective of age.

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