No effect of physiotherapy on the serum levels of adipocytokines in patients with ankylosing spondylitis

To investigate the effect of intensive physiotherapy on disease activity and serum levels of adipocytokines in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Twenty-six patients with AS were included in this study. Intensive physiotherapy was performed twice a week for a period of 3 months. The Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Bath AS Functional Index (BASFI) were assessed at inclusion and after 3 months. Leptin, adiponectin, resistin and visfatin serum levels were analysed by ELISA assays. Patients had mild to moderate disease activity. Baseline levels of adipocytokines did not correlate with indicators of disease activity, functional status or acute-phase reactants. After the 3 months of intensive physiotherapy, BASDAI significantly decreased from 2.98 to 1.8 (p = 0.01) and BASFI improved from 2.31 to 1.37 (p = 0.05), while there were no changes in serum levels of CRP, ESR and adipocytokines. In addition, baseline levels of adipocytokines did not predict the change of disease activity or functional ability. Intensive physiotherapy effectively reduces all clinical measures of disease activity, but it is not associated with a significant change in acute-phase reactants or serum levels of adipocytokines.