Introduction: The prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is estimated to be 0.8% in southern Chinese. However, the number of patients requiring spinal surgery is much less and in fact in declining trend. The exact reason is not certain but is…
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology, though it is considered an autoimmune disease. HLA-B27 is the risk factor most often associated with AS, and although the mechanism of involvement is unclear, the subtypes and other…
Effects of Ankylosing Spondylitis
Although other joints can be involved, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) primarily affects the spine. In this particular type of arthritis, the joints and ligaments of the spine become inflamed. This can cause back pain and stiffness. In time, the bones may…
Myths About Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Only Affects the Back No. Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a form of inflammatory, painful arthritis that mainly affects the lower back and spinal joints (vertebrae). However, other joints such as the knee, shoulders, hips, ribs, heels and…
Ankylosing Spondylitis (Reactive Arthritis of the Spine)
If your back is stiff and hurts when you move, if it hurts to touch two points at the side of the top of your pelvis where it joins your spine (the sacroiliac joint), and if your back x ray…
Ankylosing Spondylitis Overview
How is it treated? Treatment includes exercise and physical therapy. These will help reduce stiffness so that you can stand up straighter and move around better. Your doctor will also give you medicine for pain and swelling. Because people with…
Most back pain isn’t caused by ankylosing spondylitis (AS). However, the symptoms, especially in the early stages, can be very similar to more common back problems. Because of this, many people put up with the pain for some time before…
This booklet is part of a programme for people affected by Ankylosing Spondylitis (AN-kuh-low-sing sponduh-LIE-tis) or AS for short. You may be affected either by having the condition yourself or by knowing somebody who has. At the Ankylosing Spondylitis Association…
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis of the spine. It causes swelling between your vertebrae, which are the disks that make up your spine, and in the joints between your spine and pelvis. Ankylosing spondylitis is an immune disease.…
Ankylosing spondylitis belongs to a group of arthritis conditions that tend to cause chronic inflammation of the spine (spondyloarthropathies). Ankylosing spondylitis affects males two to three times more commonly than females. Ankylosing spondylitis is a cause of back pain in…
