Ankylosing spondylitis

Summary

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that, over time, can cause some of the bones in the spine (vertebrae) to fuse. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched posture. If ribs are affected, it can be difficult to breathe deeply.

Signs and symptoms typically begin in early adulthood. Inflammation can also occur in other parts of the body — most commonly, the eyes.

There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but treatments can lessen symptoms and possibly slow progression of the disease.

(Autoimmune Association, 2022)

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. Over time, symptoms might worsen, improve or stop at irregular intervals.

The areas most commonly affected are:

• The joint between the base of the spine and the pelvis

• The vertebrae in the lower back

• The places where tendons and ligaments attach to bones, mainly in the spine, but sometimes along the back of the heel

• The cartilage between the breastbone and the ribs

• The hip and shoulder joints

(Autoimmune Association, 2022)

Inflammation, pain, and stiffness in the shoulders, hips, ribs, heels, and small joints of the hands and feet, pain, stiffness, and inflammation in other joints, difficulty taking deep breaths if the joints connecting the ribs are affected, feeling fatigued, loss of appetite and weight loss, skin rashes, and abdominal pain and loose bowel movements. In rare cases, swelling or irritation of the eye and vision changes can occur, and in even more rare cases, the lungs and heart can be affected.

(Global Autoimmune Institute, 2023)

Diagnostic Criteria

Under Investigation

Study Classification Criteria

Under Investigation

Diagnostic Tests

Under Investigation

Organized Autoimmunity

(Alternative Autoimmune Disease Classification: FIEM, MIEM or BIEM, or FEM, MEM or BEM)

1. sex predominance (is an autoimmune disease primarily found in genetic Females, Males, or equally in Both?)

   1. Under Investigation

2. Inherited and acquired gene variations that cause increased susceptibility

   1. Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Associations

      1. Under Investigation

   2. Other Gene Variations (mutations)

      1. Under Investigation

3. Gene Triggering Environmental Exposures

   1. Infections

      1. COVID-19 (Chang et. al, 2023)

   2. Toxins

      1. Under Investigation

   3. Stress

      1. Needs to be assessed for each patient

4. Multiple interactive and destructive immune system pathologies

   1. Under Investigation

Tissue-Type or Cell-Type Attacked

Under Investigation

Treatment(s)

Under Investigation

Managing Specialist(s)

Under Investigation

Research Authors

Under Investigation

Research Institutions

Under Investigation

Average Time from Symptom Onset to Diagnosis

Under Investigation

Last Updated

September 05, 2023

References

Ankylosing spondylitis. Autoimmune Association. (2022, November 12). Retrieved January 02, 2023 from https://autoimmune.org/disease-information/ankylosing-spondylitis/

Ankylosing spondylitis. Global Autoimmune Institute. (2023). Retrieved January 02, 2023 from https://www.autoimmuneinstitute.org/ankylosing-spondylitis/

Chang R, Yen-Ting Chen T, Wang SI, Hung YM, Chen HY, Wei CJ. Risk of autoimmune diseases in patients with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study. EClinicalMedicine. 2023 Feb;56:101783. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101783. Epub 2023 Jan 10. PMID: 36643619; PMCID: PMC9830133.