Lumbar Spondylolisthesis in a Sample of Iraqi Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

The aim of the study is to assess the prevalence of lumbar spondylolisthesis in rheumatoid arthritis patients.A total of 100 patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been diagnosed according to the 2010 AmericanCollege of Rheumatology/European League against rheumatism classification criteria, and comparedwith 100 healthy controls. Lumbar spondylolesthesis was reported in 27% of cases and 18% of controls.Males represented 19% of cases and 22% of control group while females represented 81 % of cases and78% of controls. Among patients with spondylolesthesis, degenerative type was reported in(66.7%), whileamong controls with spondylolesthesis, the isthmic type was reported in (72.2%). The prevalence of lumbarspondylolesthesis in Rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic low back pain was significantly higher thanin controls. The prevalence of degenerative type was more common in rheumatoid arthritis patients, whilethe prevalence of isthmic type was more common in controls.