Case Report: A Rare Manifestation of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is an inflammatory disease that involves the axial skeleton and can present with extra-articular manifestations. However, there are scarce reports describing the link between AS and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Herein, we report on a 58-year-old man with a history of AS for 32 years who developed PAH as confirmed by echocardiography and right cardiac catheterization. To our knowledge, this is the first case of AS associated with PAH 32 years after the AS diagnosis with a detailed clinical description. We are recommended that physicians should be aware of this rare comorbidity in AS patients. Early echocardiographic screening is necessary for symptomatic patients.

Automated summary

This article reports on a 58-year-old male patient who developed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) confirmed by echocardiography and right cardiac catheterization 32 years after the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This is the first detailed case description of AS associated with PAH. Physicians are recommended to be aware of this rare comorbidity in AS patients, and early echocardiographic screening is necessary for symptomatic patients.