Ankylosing spondylitis is a rare form of arthritis that primarily affects the
spine, although other joints can become involved. It causes inflammation of
the spinal joints ie vertebrae that can lead to severe, chronic pain and
discomfort.Ankylosing spondylitis leads to loss of mobility of the spine.It
can spread up to your neck or damage joints in other parts of your body
Ankylosing spondylitis is also a systematic rheumatic disease, meaning it
can affect other tissues throughout the body.
Signs & Symptoms
• Inflammation of the spine, joints, and other organs.
• Fatigue
• Pain and morning stiffness of the spine and sacral areas with or
without accompanying inflammation in other joints, tendons, and
organs.
• Expansion of the chest with full breathing can be limited because of
rigidity of the chest wall.
• Severely affected persons can have a stooped posture. The
symptoms of pain and stiffness are often worse in the morning, or
after prolonged periods of inactivity.Patients who have chronic,
severe inflammation of the spine can develop a complete bony
fusion of the spine (ankylosis).
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis is done by the Doctors on the basis of Patients symptoms,also
Physical examination , X Ray finding and Blood Test is done accordingly.
There is no specific test to diagnose Ankylosing Spondylitis, but imaging by
X-ray and MRI may show evidence of inflammation of the sacroiliac joint
between the sacrum i e the triangular bone at the lowest part of the back
and the ilium i e the bone felt on the upper part of the hip.
