Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rare type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in your spine.

"Ankylosis" means fused bones or other hard tissue. "Spondylitis" means inflammation in your spinal bones, or vertebrae.

This lifelong condition,usually starts in your lower back and can spread up to your neck.It can make damage, stiffness and painful joints in other parts of your body like(rib cage,hip, shoulder and feet.)  

About 95% of people who have AS have a variation of the human leukocyte antigen-B gene (HLA-B). This changed, or mutated, gene produces a protein called HLA-B27 that increases disease risk.

However, most people with a mutated HLA-B gene don’t get AS.

It often starts in people who are in their late teens or 20s.

Anyone can get AS, although it affects more men than women.

spondylitis belong to a group of disease known as spondyloarthropathies.

Between 3-13 out of 1000 people have one of these disease.

As the disease progresses, it can affect the joints between the spine and ribs, restricting movement of the chest and making it difficult to breathe deeply. 

Ankylosing spondylitis affects the eyes in more than 30 percent of cases, leading to episodes of eye inflammation called acute iritis. Acute iritis typically affects one eye at a time and causes eye pain and increased sensitivity to light (photophobia). Rarely, ankylosing spondylitis can also cause serious complications involving the heart, lungs, and nervous system.

6 to 10 percent of people with ankylosing spondylitis have additional inflammatory disorders such as psoriasis, which affects the skin, or uclerative colitis or Crohn disease, which both affect the digestive tract.

Sign & symptoms -

Early signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis might include pain and stiffness in the lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity.

Neck pain and fatigue also are common.

You might notice:

•Pain that’s worse in the morning or after sitting for a long time.

•A rigid spine that curves forward.

•Tiredness.

•Swelling in your joints.

•Trouble taking deep breaths.

•People with ankylosing spondylitis can develop bowel problems known as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or colitis.

•loss of appetite.

•low-grade fever.

•weight loss.

•fatigue.

•anemia or low iron.

Causes-

The causes of AS is unknown.

Most people with AS are positive for the HLA-B27 gene.

Researchers do not know the cause of ankylosing spondylitis.they know that the HLA-B27 gene increases the risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis, but this does not mean you will get the disease if you have the gene. Many people have the gene and never develop ankylosing spondylitis, which tells researchers that environmental factors also play a role. studies show that both 'genes and environment' may lead to the development of the disease.

Prevention -

There are no known ways to prevent ankylosing spondylitis. 

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