Abstract

OBJECTIVES
To investigate the associations of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
METHODS
We conducted a retrospective cohort study by reviewing the medical records of 1503 consecutive AS patients diagnosed at a tertiary medical center. The clinical and electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics of 641 AS patients having 12-lead ECG available were further analyzed in a precise manner.
RESULTS
Among the 641 AS patients with 12-lead ECG available for detecting cardiac abnormalities, 14 were identified as having PSVT, including 3 with WPW syndrome and 1 having a WPW (ventricular preexcitation) ECG pattern. A higher proportion of AS patients presented with PSVT (21.8/1000) compared with a general population-based study (2.25/1000). Also, AS patients demonstrated a higher prevalence of WPW syndrome or WPW pattern (6.24/1000) than found in general population-based studies (0.9 to 1.5/1000). Ankylosing spondylitis patients with PSVT or WPW syndrome had significantly higher rates of peripheral arthritis (78.6%; P = 0.002), acute anterior uveitis (64.3%; P = 0.003), bamboo spine (64.3%; P = 0.001), and other cardiovascular disorders (85.7%; P < 0.0001) than the remaining 627 patients without PSVT.
CONCLUSIONS
Ankylosing spondylitis patients had a high probability of developing PSVT and WPW syndrome. Detailed ECG and electrophysiological examinations are required for early detection of PSVT and WPW syndrome for prompt resolution of potentially life-threatening complications in all AS patients, especially those presenting with the symptoms of palpitation, dizziness, dyspnea, or syncope.

Links

Publisher Full Text

Authors

Ho HH, Yeh SJ, Tsai WP, Wang CM, Chen JY

Institution

Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Immunology, and Rheumatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Tao-Yuan, Taiwan.

Source

Seminars in arthritis and rheumatism 42:3 2012 Dec pg 246-53

MeSH

Adult
Comorbidity
Dizziness
Dyspnea
Early Diagnosis
Electrocardiography
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Retrospective Studies
Spondylitis, Ankylosing
Syncope
Tachycardia, Paroxysmal
Tachycardia, Supraventricular
Taiwan
Uveitis, Anterior
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22608711