 |
Christine Steinier |
The “spondylitis”
bit refers to spinal inflammation. Ankylosing
means that the moving parts of the spine stiffen up progressively. AS is one
cause of low back pain and stiffness in young men, but women can also develop
the condition. The sex ratio in favour of males is 3:1.
In the late 19th
century, Vladimir von Bechterew, Adolph Strumpel and Pierre Marie provided
descriptions of the disease, which allowed it to be adequately diagnosed. Apart
from spinal involvement, AS can affect peripheral joints and the eye.
Conditions such as
psoriatic arthritis, Reiter’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease can be
associated with AS.
There is a high
(90-95%) preponderance of a particular tissue type called HLA B27. About 7-8%
of the general population have this tissue type but this does not necessarily
mean that you will develop the disease - it is a definite risk factor. The
cause of AS is not known but there is some good evidence that its onset may be
linked to a bacterial trigger.
An old saying
amongst doctors is that every patient with ankylosing spondylitis has a sad
story to tell – a story of vague backache which has been treated for years with
this, that and the other, all without benefit.
With the current
emphasis on earlier and more accurate diagnosis and the availability of
biological agents for treatment, the prognosis for sufferers has improved
remarkably.The “spondylitis”
bit refers to spinal inflammation. Ankylosing
means that the moving parts of the spine stiffen up progressively. AS is one
cause of low back pain and stiffness in young men, but women can also develop
the condition. The sex ratio in favour of males is 3:1.
In the late 19th
century, Vladimir von Bechterew, Adolph Strumpel and Pierre Marie provided
descriptions of the disease, which allowed it to be adequately diagnosed. Apart
from spinal involvement, AS can affect peripheral joints and the eye.
Conditions such as
psoriatic arthritis, Reiter’s disease, and inflammatory bowel disease can be
associated with AS.
There is a high
(90-95%) preponderance of a particular tissue type called HLA B27. About 7-8%
of the general population have this tissue type but this does not necessarily
mean that you will develop the disease - it is a definite risk factor. The
cause of AS is not known but there is some good evidence that its onset may be
linked to a bacterial trigger.
An old saying
amongst doctors is that every patient with ankylosing spondylitis has a sad
story to tell – a story of vague backache which has been treated for years with
this, that and the other, all without benefit.
With the current
emphasis on earlier and more accurate diagnosis and the availability of
biological agents for treatment, the prognosis for sufferers has improved
remarkably.
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