Ankylosing spondylitis overview
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2]
Overview
Galen was the first to distinguish the difference between ankylosing spondylitis and rheumatoid arthritis.Realdo Colombo has first described ankylosing spondylitis.Bernard Connor was first to describe ankylosing spondylitis pathologic changes.Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may be classified according to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) into ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographicaxSpA (nr-axSpA). Formerly ankylosing spondylitis (AS) termed as spondyloarthritides or spondyloarthropathies. AS has been regarded as the prototype of spondyloarthritis. Previously ankylosing spondylitis (AS), spondyloarthritis (SpA), reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, arthritis and spondylitis associated with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis which belong to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a spondyloarthropathy, is a chronic, multisystem inflammatory disorder involving primarily the sacroiliac (SI) joints and the axial skeleton. The outcome in patients with a spondyloarthropathy, including AS, is generally compared with that in patients with a disease such as rheumatoid arthritis.Mostly the joints where the spine joins the pelvis are also affected.Back pain is one of the most prominent symptoms of the ankylosing spondylitis (AS) which is intermittent in nature.Stiffness in the affected joints gets worse.It is believed that both the combination of genetic and environmental factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis(AS) and the underlying etiology is believed to be autoimmune or autoinflammatory.Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that in overtime it causes some of the vertebrae in your spine to fuse.Because of the fusion the spine less flexible and the patients present with hunched-forward posture. It can be difficult to breathe deeply when the ribs are involved.The most common cause of ankylosing spondylitis is involvement of gene HLA B27.Ankylosing spondylitis must be differentiated from other diseases causing reactive arthritis,rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.The prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) or ankylosing spondylitis in a population depends upon the following 1)Ethnic groups 2) Selection of subjects for evaluation and 3) The criteria for diagnosis.It shows a clear evidence that correlation between the prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS)/axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) in a given population and the prevalence of human leukocyte antigen HLA-B27 exits.There is no known cause specific cause for ankylosing spondylitis, though genetic factors seems to play very important role in developing the disease. In particular, people who are positive for HLA-B27 are at more risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis.Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic joint inflammation that mostly affects the spine. Gradually it can cause the bones of the spine to fuse together, a process which is called ankylosis.