Ankylosing Spondylitis Research

Background
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine, though other joints can be included during the progression of the disease. To clarify the medical name, Ankylosis means “fusion” and Spondylitis means “inflammation of the spine”.

AS will in some way, shape or form affect your body through inflammation of the ligaments and joints in your lower back – causing anywhere from mild to severe chronic pain. Some days you will feel fine and other days the inflammation and pain will flare up. As the disease progresses, symptoms may subside in their level of severity.

The trademark of the disease is its impact in the sacroiliac (SI) joints where the spine meets the pelvis – causing inflammation, pain and stiffness (Spondylitis Association of America). In some advanced stages, the healing and repairing on the spine due to inflammation can result in bone fusion. The formation of new bone between the vertebrae makes the spine rigid and more prone to fractures. Mobility also becomes an issue as your range of motion may become limited. A rare and eventual forward stooping of the spine, called kyphosis, causing you to walk in a bent over position. Fortunately this condition is becoming more uncommon with medical advances and information on correct body posture.

It’s comforting to know that you are not the only person in the world dealing with this disease and that there are a myriad of different medicinal and alternative treatments out there. People living with AS ski, go to work and lead normal lives. You basically have the same chance of becoming bed-ridden as you do getting eaten by a Great White Shark. EraseAS.com is here to offer support, information and hopefully a cure. This Web site is a guide to understanding the finer points of AS beyond just the basic facts.

AS is the main disease in a group of diseases known as Spondylitis; which comprise six out of all 100 rheumatic illnesses in the world.  AS is actually more prevalent than multiple sclerosis and cystic fibrosis combined (SAA) Medical experts believe the onset of AS is associated with the Human Leucocyte Antigen B27 gene (HLA-B27), though testing positive for the gene does not imply a positive diagnosis for AS. AS is considered a hereditary condition and “triggers” like a bacterial infection or other genes are also thought to initiate the disease.

The onset of AS occurs between the ages of 15 to 35 and approximately half a million people in the United States suffer from the disease. According to Dr. Muhammad Asim Khan, rheumatologist and AS patient, the diagnosis of AS can be delayed by five to six years. The severity level of the symptoms ranges from person to person, though males are more prone to the disease than women on a three-to-one ratio.

Being a systemic disease, the inflammation and pain caused by AS can affect joints beyond the spine like the hips, shoulders, ribs, heels, hands and feet (Dr. William Shiel, medical author of MedineNet.com and rheumatologist). The chest, jaw, eyes, kidneys, heart and lungs can also become inflamed and cause mild to severe pain. During a routine examination, your rheumatologist will look for some of these tender or painful areas. Sitting in a paper nightgown isn’t a fun experience but it’s a first step to early diagnosis.

Diagnosis