Ankylosing Spondylitis Facts

1. Ankylosing spondylitis belongs to a group of arthritis conditions that tend to cause chronic inflammation of the spine (spondyloarthropathies).
2. Ankylosing spondylitis affects males two to three times more commonly than females.
3. Ankylosing spondylitis is a cause of back pain in adolescents and young adults.
4. The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is genetically inherited.
5. The HLA-B27 gene can be detected in the blood of most patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
6. Ankylosing spondylitis can also affect the eyes, heart, lungs, and occasionally the kidneys.
7. The optimal treatment of ankylosing spondylitis involves medications that reduce inflammation or suppress immunity, physical therapy, and exercise.

Source: MedicineNet