Ankylosing Spondylitis – Part 1

Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the joints between the spine and the pelvis as well as the joints between the spinal processes. The joint between the spine and pelvis is often called the sacroiliac joint, or SI joint. This joint is where the sacrum, just above the tailbone, and the iliac bones, those on either side of the buttocks, meet. The disease causes pain and inflammation, but may also cause this same effect in other parts of the body as well.

Chronic inflammation in these areas, vertebrae and SI joint, will cause pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time chronic inflammation can lead to the vertebral bodies fusing together which is a process called ankylosis. This leads to the loss of mobility in the joints affected.

However, the disease is also systemic – meaning it can affect other tissue around the body. Inflammation and injury can occur in other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs and kidneys. This particular disease shares many features with other arthritic conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, ulcerative colitis and reactive arthritis. Because of their similarities the conditions are sometimes collectively referred to as spondyloarthropathies. (1)

Unfortunately, Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic condition and while treatments can decrease pain and lessen symptoms, there is no current cure. With early diagnosis and treatment many individuals can prevent complications and physical deformities which can be common.

Ankylosing Spondylitis is two to three times more common in men than it is in women. When men are affected they are more likely to have the joints of the vertebral column fused and women are more frequently affected in the joints away from the spine. Ankylosing Spondylitis can also affect children although the most common onset of symptoms is in the 20s and 30s.

References:

(1) American Family Physician: Spondyloarthropathies

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2004/0615/p2853.html

(2) Therapeutic Clinical Risk Management: Update on the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2387283/

(3) Cleveland Clinic: Spondyloarthropathy

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/spondylitis/hic_spondyloarthropathy.aspx

(4) NHS Choices: Anykylosing Spondylitis – Complications

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Ankylosing-spondylitis/Pages/Complications.aspx