SPONDYLOARTHROPATHIES IN CIRCUMPOLAR POPULATIONS OF CHUKOTKA (ESKIMOSAND CHUKCHI) - EPIDEMIOLOGY AND CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Objective. We sought to determine the prevalence df HLA-B27 and the pr evalence and nature of spondyloarthropathies in the native residents o f Eastern Chukotka, Siberia, Russia. Methods. We conducted a cross sec tional study with medical examination and interview of 464 of 640 (72. 5%) native residents of 2 Eastern Chukotka settlements, Sireniki and N ovo-Chaplino. Results. Among them were 212 Eskimos, 98 Chukchi and 154 subjects of mixed race. There were 2 subjects (0.4%) with ankylosing spondylitis, 2 with Reiter's syndrome, 2 with undifferentiated spondyl oarthropathy and 1 with late onset pauciarticular juvenile arthritis c onsistent with spondyloarthropathy. Four of the subjects were Eskimos, 2 were of mixed race, and 1 was Chukchi. We found a high percentage o f HLA-B27 antigen in the population, 32% in the native population over all, and 40% among the Eskimos. Conclusion. Our data complement other studies of circumpolar populations and reinforce the reported high pre valence of spondyloarthropathy and HLA-B27 among those people.