Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis associated with risk factors for stroke: a case-control study.

STUDY DESIGN: The incidence of risk factors for cerebrovascular diseases was investigated in patients with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and patients with cervical spondylosis. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between DISH and cerebrovascular disease. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: DISH is a common skeletal disease mainly affecting the anterior and lateral spinal longitudinal ligaments. The principal clinical features are nonradicular pain, stiffness, dysphagia (cervical portion), and associated ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament. METHODS: Age- and sex-matched patients were divided into three groups: 45 patients with DISH, 45 patients with cervical spondylosis Grade I and II, and 45 patients with cervical spondylosis Grade III and IV. Anthropometric, laboratory, and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The values of uric acid (P = 1.60 x 10) and alkaline phosphatase (P = 2.00 x 10) were significantly greater in patients with DISH than in the other groups. Patients with DISH had a significantly higher incidence of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (P = 5.21 x 10). Stiffness was significantly more common in patients with DISH and patients with spondylosis Grade III and IV than in patients with spondylosis Grade I and II (P = 0.000232). The incidence of infarction on MR imaging was significantly higher in patients with DISH than in the other groups (P = 0.0120). The incidence of stenosis or occlusion of a major cerebral artery on MR angiography was significantly higher in patients with DISH than in the other groups (P = 0.00264). CONCLUSIONS: DISH is associated with increased incidences of risk factors for stroke and cerebrovascular disease.