Vijith Kumar Kuttat1, Arun Suresh Menon2, Vinod V. S3
INTRODUCTION
Seronegative spondyloarthropathy is a group of chronic autoimmune disorders that share common clinical, radiological and genetic features that are clearly distinct from other inflammatory rheumatic diseases and characterised by absence of rheumatoid factor. It includes ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, acute anterior uveitis, undifferentiated spondyloarthropathies and juvenile spondyloarthropathies.
OBJECTIVES
To study the clinical profile of adult patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathy and to classify the patients into specific subtypes based on standard clinical criteria.
METHODOLOGY
A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathy attending Internal Medicine Department of Calicut Medical College, Kerala using semi-structured questionnaire and standard clinical tests.
RESULTS
Males were found to be more affected with a male female ratio of 2.7:1. Undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy was the most common subtype followed by Psoriatic arthritis and reactive arthritis. Enthesopathy was noted in 88% of patients. Skin and mucosal involvement was seen in 33%. Morning stiffness and peripheral joint involvement was present in most of the cases. Symmetric polyarthritis was the most common presentation of psoriatic arthritis, seen in the study group.
CONCLUSION
Prevalence of Seronegative spondyloarthropathies is on the rise among people of North Kerala. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is necessary to prevent complications and improve the quality of life of affected persons.
