이 연구는 강직성 척추염 환자를 대상으로 12주간의 가정기반운동(home-based exercise) 프로그램을 수행하여 환자 특성별 염증관련 혈액지표, 관절가동범위, 통증척도 및 심리적인 지표 세부적이고 종합적으로 제공하고자 수행되었다. 연구의 목적을 위해 강직성 척추염을 진단받은 환자 10명을 선정하여 연령별(30대 vs. 40대 vs. 50대), 성별(남성 vs. 여성) 및 유병기간(5년 미만 vs. 5년 이상)으로 구분하였다. 가정기반 운동 프로그램은 유산소운동과 필라테스 기반 저항성 운동의 복합운동 형태로 최대심박수 (maximal heart rate, MHR)의 50-70% 강도에서 주 4회, 12주 동안 수행되었다. 연구결과, 12주간의 가 정기반운동 중재 후 강직성 척추염 환자의 혈중 CRP (C-reactive protein) 농도가 감소됨으로써 (-35.6%, p=.017) 혈중 염증 수치가 개선되었으며, 각 관절(고관절, 허리, 경추)의 가동성이 향상되었다(p<.05). 또한 질병활성도(Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index, BASDAI)는 -67%(p=.005), 시각통증지표 (Visual analogue scale, VAS)는 -64.8%(p=.005) 감소됨으로써 강직 및 통증이 전반적으로 완화되었다. 특히, 우울 정도가 -65.5%(p=.005), 불안 정도는 -55.2%(p=.008) 감소됨으로써 12주간의 가정기반운동은 신체적 변화 뿐 아니라 심리적인 요인도 개선 시켜주는 것으로 나타났다. 반면, 강직성 척추염 환자의 연령, 성별, 유병기간에 따른 운동 효과 차이는 나타나지 않았다(p>.05). 따라서 이 연구에서 적용된 12주 간의 가정기반운동이 환자 특성과 상관없이 강직성 척추염 환자에게 보편적으로 사용될 수 있는 효과적인 운동프로그램이 될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of exercise therapy on physical function of patients with anklyosing spondylitis (AS) through the systemic review and meta-analysis. The 54 studies were identified from computerized search of published researches on PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, PEDro, KISS, KERIS database until February, 2008 and review of reference lists. The main search terms were the combination "ankylosing spondylitis", "exercise", "spondyloarthropathy and exercise", "ankylosing spondylitis and physical therapy". The subgroup analysis was performed by the publication year, quality score, type of disease, content of intervention, intervention provider, type of intervention, method of intervention, intervention period and the point of outcome measured. Two reviewers independently selected trials for inclusion, assessed the quality and extracted the data. The result was as follows: The 10 trials were eligible for inclusion criteria, then the systematic review and meta-analysis was assessed on effectiveness of exercise therapy. The meta-analysis of 10 studies based on the random effect model showed that the exercise therapy was beneficial in treating the diseases (effect size .55; 95% confidence interval -.3.75~.61). The findings suggest that the exercise therapy would be appropriate to manage the physical function of AS with evidence based on Meta-analysis. Therefore, the exercise therapy supervised by physical therapist should be recognized as the essential approach to manage the AS and necessarily recommended to improve physical function.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of a disease-specific exercise (DSE) on temporomandibular joint (TMJ) function and neck mobility in TMJ dysfunction associated with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Ten AS patients (seven males and three females) with TMJ dysfunction were recruited for this study. The DSE included exercises to correct head and neck posture and to improve the flexibility of the neck and TMJs. The patients attended treatment three times a week for 4 weeks, averaging 1 hour each session. Assessments were performed pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6 weeks after the completion of treatment. General physical status was assessed by four clinical measures (tragus-to-wall distance, modified Schober test, lumbar side flexion, and intermalleolar distance), the Bath ankylosing spondylitis function index (BASFI), and the Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index. The main outcome measures included TMJ function (craniomandibular index (CMI)), and neck mobility (flexion, extension, rotation, and lateral rotation). None of the measures of general physical status, with the exception of BASFI, were significant1y different between the pretreatment, posttreatment, and 6-week follow-up (p>.05). However, CMI and all neck movements, except for extension, significant1y improved after the treatment (p<.05). These improvements were maintained during the follow-up period. The DSE used in the present study seems to be a clinical1y useful method for managing patients with symptoms from the stomatognathic system in AS. Further studies with more subjects and longer treatment times, including the follow-up period, will be conducted to validate these findings.

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory joint disease affecting the axial skeleton, peripheral joints, entheses, and extra-articular site. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents are the first line drugs for treatment of AS. Sulfasalazine is regarded as the second line drug and is usually used on AS patients with concomitant peripheral arthritis. Sulfasalazine has side effects, including liver toxicity, hematological abnormality, skin eruption, and other symptoms. However, eosinophilic pleural effusion is rare. Thus, we report on a patient with peripheral eosinophilia and eosinophilic pleural effusion after taking sulfasalazine for treatment of AS.

Behcet’s disease (BD) is characterized by oral or orogenital ulcers and various systemic symptoms. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a prototype of the seronegative spondiloarthropathy(SNSpA) group, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the axial skeleton primarily involving the sacroiliac joint and vertebrae. Coexistence of BD and AS has rarely been reported. We report on a patient with concomitant AS and BD who was treated successfully with etanercept. Several case reports suporting the effectiveness of other medications such as NSAIDs in patients with coexisting AS and BD have been reported in the literature. However, we found no report regarding the use of anti TNF-α agent for treatment of these patients except for one case of adalimumab. To be best of our knowledge, this is the first case of a patient with concomitant AS and BD treated with etanercept.