Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a form of inflammatory arthritis that most commonly affects the spine and is thought to have its roots in genetics.
As symptoms worsen, the inflammation can travel up the spine causing pain throughout the body, and vertebrae, in some cases, can fuse together making it difficult for the patient to maintain mobility. Also, because AS is systemic (throughout the entire body) major organs can be affected.
The hallmark feature of ankylosing spondylitis is the involvement of the sacroiliac (SI) joints during the progression of the disease, which are the joints at the base of the spine.
AS is considered a rare disease, but nearly 500,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with the disorder.
Symptoms can mimic other types of arthritis, including psoriatic arthritis and the types of arthritis usually associated with irritable bowel syndrome.
A rheumatologist is usually the specialist who can accurately diagnose a person based on their medical history, symptoms, and whether or not the patient has the HLA-B27 gene, which is more prevalent among AS sufferers. Of course, other tests are considered in arriving at the diagnosis.
For information on how to help yourself or a loved one with AS, contact The Arthritis Foundation.
While a cure is currently not available, there are treatments to help manage the symptoms, including analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, and other therapies.
