Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment

Ankylosing spondylitis abroad

Overview

Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are located in the lower back where the sacrum (the bone above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on each side of the buttocks above). Chronic inflammation in these areas causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic spinal inflammation (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process called ankylosis. Ankylosis leads to loss of mobility of the spine.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic disease, which means it can affect other tissues in the body. Consequently, it can cause inflammation or injury to other joints away from the spine and other organs such as eyes, heart, lungs and kidneys. Ankylosing Spondylitis share many characteristics with several other arthritis conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis, and arthritis associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Each of these conditions can cause arthritic diseases and inflammation of the spine, other joints, eyes, skin, mouth, and in various organs. Given their similarities and tendency to cause inflammation of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as "spondyloarthropathies. Ankylosing spondylitis is considered one of the many rheumatic diseases, because it can cause symptoms involving the muscles and joints ...

What causes ankylosing spondylitis?

The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is considered hereditary and the majority (nearly 90%) of patients with ankylosing spondylitis are born with the gene HLA-B27. Blood tests have been developed to detect the genetic marker HLA-B27 and have advanced our understanding of the relationship between HLA-B27 and ankylosing spondylitis. The HLA-B27 seems only to increase the tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis, while other additional factor (s), perhaps the environment are necessary for the disease to appear or become expressed. For example, while 7% of the population of the United States have the gene HLA-B27, only 1% of the population actually have the disease ankylosing spondylitis ...

What are the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis?

The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis are related to inflammation of the spine, joints and other organs. Fatigue is a common symptom associated with active inflammation. Inflammation of the spine causes pain and stiffness in the lower back, upper buttocks, neck and the rest of the spine. The onset of pain and stiffness is usually gradual and progressively worsens over months. Sometimes the onset is rapid and intense. The symptoms of pain and stiffness are often worse in the morning or after prolonged periods of inactivity. The pain and stiffness are often eased by movement, heat, and a hot shower in the morning. Because ankylosing spondylitis often affects adolescents, the onset of low back pain is sometimes mistakenly attributed to sports injuries in young patients ...

How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis is based on the assessment of patient symptoms, physical examination, the results of X-rays and blood tests. Stiffness, pain and decreased range of motion of the spine are the characteristics of inflammatory back pain of ankylosing spondylitis. Symptoms include pain and morning stiffness of the spine and sacral areas, with or without accompanying inflammation in other joints, tendons and organs. The first symptoms of ank.