Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis(AS)

It is a type of arthritis in which is a chronic inflammation of the joints of the spine can be seen & sacroiliac joints, spine joins the pelvis are also mostly affected. Inflammation of the vertebrae in spine sometime can lead to fuse & stiffness of vertebrae. Sometime AS are involved other joints of shoulders or hips. Ankylosing spondylitis(AS) affects more in men than women. Although the cause of ankylosing spondylitis is unknown, it is believed to involve because of genetic and environmental factors. It has been noticed HLA-B27 gene can cause this disease. 

There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but treatments can lessen your symptoms and can slow progression of the disease.  Medications can reduce inflammation or suppress immunity, physical therapy and exercise reduced the symptoms. 

Back Pain

Symptom:

It usually start to appear in late adolescence or early adulthood (ages 17 to 40)

-Initial symptoms are usually characterized by a chronic dull pain in the lower back & buttock areas and can causes stiffness and can lead to loss of mobility.

-As the disease progresses, loss of spinal mobility and chest expansion. It can also cause difficulty in breathing.

-It also cause symptoms in the upper spine, eyes including the iris, lungs, and heart.

-Systemic features are common, with weight loss, fever, or fatigue often present.

-Pain is often severe at rest but may improve with physical activity.

-It can occur in any part of the spine or the entire spine, often with pain referred buttock or the back of the thigh from the sacroiliac joint. Arthritis in the hips and shoulders may also occur.

-Other symptoms like pain and swelling may also manifest in the ankles and feet sometime can be seen.

Investigation:

– Physiological examination with case history.

-Radiography 

-MRI

-Blood test for  C-reactive protein (CRP), HLA-B27 gene test, ESR, plasma viscosity (PV) etc.