Influence of Ethnicity on Ankylosing Spondylitis in Bahia, Brazil

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a form of spondyloarthritis characterized by sacroiliitis and involvement of the lumbar spine, often associated with positivity for the HLA-B27 gene. This study analyzed the influence of racial factors on the frequency of HLA-B27 and disease duration among AS patients in Bahia, Brazil. Forty-five patients were included, of whom 21 (47%) were Caucasian and 24 (53%) were mixed race or Black. The results showed that Caucasian patients had a significantly shorter average disease duration and a higher positivity rate for HLA-B27 compared to non-Caucasian patients. These findings highlight the importance of racial differences in the clinical manifestation of AS.