A New Comorbidity in Female Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis: Pelvic Organ Prolapse.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate whether increased intra-abdominal pressure caused by pelvic inflammation and frequent use of the Valsalva maneuver increases the incidence of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) among female patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS).

METHODS: Thirty-nine patients diagnosed as having AS through the use of the modified New York criteria, 47 patients with chronic low-back pain (CLBP), and 38 healthy controls (HCs) were included in this study. All the patients and the HCs underwent thorough physical and gynecological examinations. Pelvic organ prolapse was graded blindly by a gynecologist. Presence or absence of cystocele (CS), rectocele (RC), and uterine descensus (UD) was noted.

RESULTS: The incidences of CS, RC, and UD were significantly higher among the AS patients compared with the HCs (P = 0.001, 0.026, and 0002, respectively). The incidences of CS (P = 0.042) and UD (P = 0.017) were significantly higher among the AS patients compared with the CLBP patients.

CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of POP is higher among patients with AS compared with normal population. These patients should be questioned about the symptoms of POP and recommended, if necessary, regular gynecological examinations, as well as specific exercises including those targeting AS.