Assessment of subclinical vascular disease associated with ankylosing spondylitis.

Objective: Studies indicate that ankylosing spondylitis (AS), as well as rheumatoid arthritis, may be associated with accelerated atherosclerosis and vascular disease. We assessed endothelial dysfunction, carotid atherosclerosis, and aortic stiffness in AS in context with clinical and laboratory measurements.

Methods: Forty-three patients with AS and 40 matched healthy controls were studied.