Ankylosing Spondylitis

Spondylitis, Ankylosing

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic, painful, progressive inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting spine and sacroiliac joints, causing eventual fusion of the spine; it is a member of the group of the autoimmune spondyloarthropathies with a probable genetic predisposition. Complete fusion results in a complete rigidity of the spine, a condition known as bamboo spine. Signs and symptoms The typical patient is a young man of 15-30 years old with chronic pain and stiffness in the lo ...