Muscle changes in ankylosing spondylitis

Muscle biopsy of the quadriceps femoris was carried out in 20 patients with classical ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Histological and histochemical studies revealed changes in all biopsies to a varying degree. Central migration of nuclei was present in 80%, reduced fibre size with some atrophy in 40%, localized reaction to acid phosphatase in 75% and a peripheral condensation of reaction product to NADH-TR stain in 55% of biopsies. Furthermore 14 out of 16 patients, whose quadriceps strength was measured, were found to be below the predicted values, when compared to healthy controls of similar weight, and quantitative surface electromyography in 10 showed lower mean power frequency than in controls. A raised plasma creatine kinase was found in only two patients. It is concluded that muscle changes occur in AS and these may account for some of the clinical features of the disease.