Ethnicity and patterns of spondyloarthritis in South Africa--analysis of 100 patients.

Abstract

To determine the spectrum and ethnic differences of spondyloarthritis disease patterns in patients attending the Rheumatic Diseases Unit, University of Cape Town, South Africa. A retrospective survey of case records of 100 patients with spondyloarthritis seen between January 1988 and January 1995. Of these 100 patients, 71 were male, 53 were Colored [mixed race descendants of Khoisan (Hottentot and Bushmen), Whites, Malays and Black Africans], 40 White, 5 Black and 2 Indian (descendants of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent). Our results show that the prevalence and disease patterns of spondyloarthritis in this South African cohort are comparable to those seen in Europe and North America with respect to clinical and radiological features, as well as therapeutic and orthopedic surgical requirements. No major ethnic differences in disease patterns were observed in White and Colored patients studied. The spectrum of spondyloarthritis in South Africa is similar to that seen elsewhere in the world. Our study confirmed the rarity of these conditions in Black South Africans.