[Hemorheologic and clinical changes in ankylosing spondylitis during hyperthermia].

In this controlled study the short- and longterm effects of whole body hyperthermia in ankylosing spondylitis were investigated. Longitudinal and cross-sectional analyses show positive effects: reduction in blood and plasma viscosity, normalization of red cell deformability, reduction of analgetics' use, increase in motility and subjective improvement of well-being. Clinical and rheological changes correlate which might imply (but does not prove) a causal relationship between the two.