Ankylosing spondylitis is one of many forms of inflammatory arthritis, the most common of which is rheumatoid arthritis. However, ankylosing spondylitis may also cause inflammation and pain in other parts of your body: The disease is 3 times more common in men than in women, developing most commonly between the ages of 20 and 40. Accordingly, it can cause inflammation in or injury to other joints away from the spine, as well as other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys. Each of these arthritic conditions can cause disease and inflammation in the spine, other joints, eyes, skin, mouth, and various organs. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic condition. Ankylosing spondylitis shares many features with several other arthritis conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis , reactive arthritis , and arthritis associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis . Also called spondylitis or rheumatoid spondylitis, ankylosing spondylitis affects about 129 of every 100,000 people in the United States. Treatments can decrease your pain and lessen your symptoms. Effective treatment may also help prevent complications and physical deformities.

Spondylitis involves inflammation of one or more vertebrae. Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. If left untreated, the disease can cause progressive stiffening of the spine, leading to immobility. After the inflammation has subsided, new bone is created as part of the healing process. When the swelling goes down, new bone grows, replacing the ligaments or tendons. Effectively this means that the bones begin to fuse together, although most sufferers will only experience partial fusion, usually in the pelvic area. Complications of ankylosing spondylitis may include inflammation of the colored part of the eye (iris), called iritis, or difficulty breathing due to curving of the upper body and stiffening of the chest wall. Over 90% of people with AS are fully independent, although many lose some movement of the spine . People with the most severe type of AS, may also lose movement of the ribs. In view of their similarities and tendency to cause inflammation of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as "spondyloarthropathies." Ankylosing spondylitis affects all age groups, including children. The most common age of onset of symptoms is in the second and third decades of life.

Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis

The common Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis :

In a susceptible individual, a mild infection might stimulate an abnormal immune response.
Onset and flare-ups may be due to poorly understood environmental factors.
About 90-95% of patients have the HLA-B27 antigen.
Presumably, a fairly benign bacterium or virus can be antigenically similar to human ligaments.
Many people with ankylosing spondylitis have other family members with it.

Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Some Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis :

Weight loss.
Heel pain .
Limited expansion of the chest.
Fever, low grade.
Neck pain.
Joint pain and joint swelling in the shoulders, knees, and ankles.
Eye inflammation.
Loss of appetite.
Fatigue.

Treatment Ankylosing Spondylitis

Maintain proper posture.
Hort-term use of corticosteroids (to reduce inflammation)
Surgical fusion may be required for stabilizing atlantoaxial subluxation.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication, NSAIDs, (to reduce pain and inflammation) .
Regular exercise, including exercises that strengthen back muscles.
Physical therapy.
Diagnosis and treatment of potential complications .

Bowel & Stomach Diseases

Appendicitis
Barett's Oesophagus
Coeliac Disease
Crohn's Disease

Heart Problems

Angina
Aortic Aneurysm
Aortic Regurgitation
Aortic Stenosis
Arrhythmias
Atrial Fibrillation

Infectious Diseases

Bacterial Vaginosis
Bird Flu
Boils
Cellulitis
Chicken Pox
Cystitis

Skin Disorders

Acne
Alopecia Areata
Baldness

Women Diseases

Abnormal Periods
Atropic Vaginitis
Breast Cancer
Breast Pain
Cervical Cancer

Liver & Kidney Diseases

Cholecystitis
Cirrhosis
Fatty Liver Disease
Kidney Cancer
Liver Cancer

Mental Health

Anorexia Nervosa
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Bulimia Nervosa
Dementia
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Schizophrenia

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