The demographic and clinical characteristics of a turkish enthesitis-related arthritis cohort: a single center experience

Results A total of 100 patients were included. Eighty five percent were males. The mean age at onset of disease was 11.7 ± 2.9 years, age at diagnosis was 13.2 ± 2.8 years and delay time for diagnosis was 1.5 ± 1.8 years. There was a negative correlation between the age at disease onset and delay time for diagnosis (r=-382, p=0.000). The family history for anyklosing spondylitis was present in %32 patient. HLA B27 was available in 87 patients and positive in 60 % of them. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) was high in 69 patients and normal in 31 at the time of diagnosis. Enthesitis was positive in 65 patients, the most common site being the Achilles followed by plantar fascial insertion at calcaneus. Fifty patients had radiologically proven sacroiliitis (14 unilateral, 36 bilateral). Thirty six patient had hip involvement (19 unilateral, 17 bilateral). Fifty seven patients had ankle and/or knee involvement. Tarsitis was present in 22 patients. Only 7 patients had anterior uveitis. The treatments used were as follows: systemic corticosteroid (n=31), intraarticular steroid injection (n=20), methotrexate (n=28), sulphasalazine (n=97). Anti-TNF a treatments were used in 21 patients (etanercept 13, adalimumab 8). High ESR, tarsitis, sacroiliitis, hip involvement and systemic corticosteroid use were found associated with anti-TNF a requirement. There was not a significant association between the delay time for diagnosis and anti-TNF a use.