Ankylosing spondylitis
| Ankylosing spondylitis | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | Bekhterev's disease, Bechterew's disease, morbus Bechterew, Bekhterev-Strümpell-Marie disease, Marie's disease, Marie–Strümpell arthritis, Pierre–Marie's disease |
_anagoria.JPG) |
|
| A 6th century skeleton showing fused vertebrae, a sign of severe ankylosing spondylitis. | |
| Classification and external resources | |
| Specialty | rheumatology |
| ICD-10 | M08.1, M45 |
| ICD-9-CM | 720.0 |
| OMIM | 106300 |
| DiseasesDB | 728 |
| MedlinePlus | 000420 |
| eMedicine | radio/41 |
| Patient UK | Ankylosing spondylitis |
| MeSH | D013167 |
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of arthritis in which there is long term inflammation of the joints of the spine. Typically the joints where the spine joins the pelvis are also affected. Occasionally other joints such as the shoulders or hips are involved. Eye and bowel problems may also occur. Back pain is a characteristic symptom of AS, and it often comes and goes. Stiffness of the affected joints generally worsens over time.
The cause of ankylosing spondylitis is unknown; however, it is believed to involve a combination of genetic and environmental factors. The underlying mechanism is believed to be autoimmune or autoinflammatory. Diagnosis is typically based on the symptoms with support from medical imaging and blood tests. AS is a type of seronegative spondyloarthropathy, meaning that tests show no presence of rheumatoid factor (RF) antibodies.
There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis. Treatments can improve symptoms and prevent worsening. This may include medication, exercise, and surgery. Medications used include NSAIDs, steroids, DMARDs such as sulfasalazine, and biologic agents such as infliximab.
Between 0.1% and 1.8% of people are affected. Onset is typically in young adults. Males are more often affected than females. The condition was first fully described in the late 1600s by Bernard Connor; however, skeletons with ankylosing spondylitis are found in Egyptian mummies. The word is from Greek ankylos meaning stiffening, spondylos meaning vertebra, and -itis meaning inflammation.
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