Ankylosing Spondylitis Research

Causes
The exact cause(s) of AS is unknown, although research suggests a genetic connection. According to Dr. William Shiel, about 90 percent of patients with AS are born with the HLA-B27 gene – making the risk of developing AS genetically inherited. People who test positive for the HLA-B27 gene have six times greater a chance of contracting AS if they have relatives with the disease. Hence the importance of knowing your family’s AS history.

Apart from hereditary factors, environmental issues like a bacterial infection and other genes play a role in triggering AS in susceptible people. Tissue inflammation, resulting from an overactive immune system due to a bacterial infection, is the primary feature in an inflammatory autoimmune disease like AS (Shiel). According to the SAA, the HLA-B27 gene accounts for approximately 40 percent of the overall risk of developing AS. Essentially, the trigger(s) for AS could be a combination of different factors.

Because the specific cause of AS is unclear and disease development is directly associated with hereditary factors, prevention is medically deemed impossible. Treatments are designed to ease pain and stiffness, deter deformities and possibly halt disease progression – not prevent it. On the other hand, there are remedies in out there claiming to know the “triggers” for AS and how to hinder them from initiating the disease. Please check our treatment section for more information.

At Risk
People with a family history of AS are more prone to contracting the disease since the marker gene HLA-B27 is considered to be passed down generation by generation. Testing positive for the HLA-B27 gene makes a person more susceptible to developing the condition, though a positive test for the HLA-B27 gene does not ensure you will get the disease. Since the symptoms for AS usually occur between the ages of 15 and 35, it is rare for people under or overage to develop the disease, though it is possible. People with a family history should get tested as soon as possible. Early diagnosis allows more time to fight or halt disease progression.

Certain ethnic groups and races have a higher frequency of the HLA-B27 gene. For instance, the prevalence of the HLA-B27 gene and the disease AS is much higher in Native American and Caucasian groups than African American, Asian and nonwhite races (Khan). Remember, there is a parallel between the HLA-B27 gene and AS but not a direct connection. A Native American and African American may both have the gene, but the Native American has a higher chance of developing AS than the African American.

Men are two to three times more likely to contract AS than women, and some studies show men are more likely to develop kyphosis if fusion occurs. Women however tend to experience more severe pain since prolonged fusion of the spine means continued inflammation (SAA).

• Men living with AS: Males have the potential of developing a depression disorder – which is not so out of the ordinary when you are dealing with chronic pain and loss of mobility on a daily basis. Men AS patients can also experience a lower sperm count, not as a result from AS, but from certain medications like Sulfasalazine.
  
  
• Women living with AS: Females are sometimes misdiagnosed with another disease since AS is less common in women – adding frustration to the scenario. Fortunately AS has no harmful effects on pregnancy, fetal safety and delivery. Medication used during pregnancy to ease symptoms should first be discussed with a doctor and can have some adverse effects. Women are also prone to developing depression like men.

Diagnosis

Symptoms