THE ROLE OF EXTRAMUSCULOSKELETAL MANIFESTATIONS IN ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease predominantly affecting the axial skeleton but often extending to involve other systems, including the joints, entheses, eyes, and internal organs. The disease presents a heterogeneous phenotype, ranging from isolated spinal involvement to more extensive extra-skeletal manifestations (EM) such as uveitis, heart defects, and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The occurrence of EM is common in AS patients, but despite this recognition, various aspects of their pathophysiology, classification, and clinical significance remain poorly understood. Particularly, the relationship between EM and other manifestations of AS, such as peripheral joint damage, inflammatory activity, and structural progression, remains an area of active investigation. This study aims to assess the association between EM and the inflammatory activity, clinical manifestations, and severity of AS.