An overview of ankylosing spondylitis

The term spondylitis is also referred to as spondyloarthritis or spondyloarthropathy. This disorder is characterized by a group of rheumatic problems that are related to each other. One of the main types of this disorder is ankylosing spondylitis . Here are some important insights regarding this problem.

What is ankylosing spondylitis?

• Ankylosing spondylitis is a certain type of arthritis that directly attacks the spine.
• Under this condition, the vertebrae tend to fuse together, which results in a rigid spine.

What are the most common symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis?

Some worrisome ankylosing spondylitis symptoms include the following:

• The symptoms of this problem begin with stiffness and pain. This pain may occur in different areas including lower back, hips, and buttocks. These pains often do not subside and are present for an approximate duration of three months.
• Another important symptom of this problem is bony fusion. This condition results in overgrowth of the bones, which may result in bones eventually joining. Bone fusion may attack the hips, back, and neck.
• Also, ankylosing spondylitis symptoms are often characterized by a throbbing pain in the tendons and the ligaments, which suffer through inflammation in this condition and are attached to the different bones of the body.
• One important pointer to remember regarding Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms is that as it is a systemic disorder, the people suffering from this condition may also experience fatigue, loss of appetite, and fever.

What is the main cause of this type of spondylitis and which demographic is at maximum risk of getting it?

• The main cause of this disease can be attributed to genetic factors. However, there are patients who have shown no genetic issues at all and have been affected by ankylosing spondylitis.
• People with this disorder are shown to carry a gene known as HLA-B27 in most cases.
• However, there are some additional risk factors, which may make an individual more prone to getting this disease. Some of the risk factors are gender, wherein males are at a higher risk of getting ankylosing spondylitis as compared to females; age, in which the onset of this disease can be commonly seen during the early stages of adulthood or also during later stages of adolescence; and heredity, as the presence of the HLA-B27 gene is known to be carried through generations of people who inherit this condition.

How can ankylosing spondylitis be diagnosed?

• Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms are the first step toward recognizing the presence of this problem.
• A doctor may also run some physical tests and you may need to bend in different directions to get a grasp of the range of motion of your back.
• An X-ray of the pelvis and the back may also help in further determining the intensity of the problem.
• Some additional lab tests may also be suggested to diagnose the condition.

How is ankylosing spondylitis treated medically?

While there is no exact cure for ankylosing spondylitis, there are some supplementary methods that can use for treating it.

• In order to minimize the level of deformity and to maintain functioning, occupational and physical therapy may be required.
• A regime involving daily exercise is also important.
• Surgery may be an option for people suffering from this problem and having severe effects on knees and joints.
• There are plenty of medications, which help in the management of ankylosing spondylitis , such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs; and biologics, which are fairly new in the market.