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 What is Ankylosing Spondylitis? |
| General Info about Ankylosing Spondylitis |
| Who are prone to Ankylosing Spondylitis ? |
| What are the signs and symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis ? |
| How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed ? |
| How is Ankylosing Spondylitis treated ? |
| Frequently asked questions |
| Glossary |
| What is Ankylosing Spondylitis ? |
"Ankylosing spondylitis is a Rheumatic disease that causes arthritis of the spine and sacro iliac joint and can cause inflammation of the eyes, lungs and heart valves. It varies from intermittent episodes of back pain that occur through out life to severe chronic disease that attacks the spine, peripheral joints and other body organs resulting in severe joint and back stiffness, loss of motion and deformity as life progresses "
- American college of Rheumatology
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| General Info about Ankylosing Spondylitis |
The term 'Ankylosing spondylitis' is derived from Greek words where the meaning of the word itself infers the nature of the disease. "Ankylosing " refers to 'fusing together' 'Spondylitis' refers to 'inflammation of vertebral bone. The cause for Ankylosing spondylitis is unknown and unclear. As it is a progressive disease, the pelvic region is affected first followed by lower back, chest wall, neck, Shoulder, Hips, Knees, Jaw, Eyes, Lungs, Heart and Bowel.
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| Who are prone to Ankylosing Spondylitis ? |
Gender - Men are affected more than women
Age - Individuals between 15-40 years of age are most commonly affected .
Hereditary - Heredity plays a major role in predisposing the disease. Ankylosing spondylitis is present in persons whose relatives are already affected by it.
Tissue type - Ankylosing spondylitis is related to certain tissue types. Majority of persons affected with Ankylosing spondylitis are found to belong to HLA-B-27 type of tissue.
Colon Ulcers - Patients with bowel ulcers are under risk of developing Ankylosing Spondylitis.
Reiter's disease - Reiter's disease is a joint disease, where all the joints of the body are affected. Patients affected by Reiter's disease are more susceptible to Ankylosing Spondylitis.
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| What are the signs and symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis ? |
The severity of an individuals condition may depend on the stage of progression of the disease .
Early stages:
A frequent dull pain and stiffness are usually experienced in the region of the lower back during the initial stages and is mainly felt on one side.
Advanced stages :
It is a persistent kind of pain , which is also felt in various areas of the body such as the ribs , shoulder blades, hips , thighs and heels. One may also experience an overall feeling of tiredness due to the inflammation caused by Ankylosing Spondylysis .
Other symptoms include :
Bowel inflammation / Ulcers
Ititis or Uevitis ( inflammation of the eyes)
Lack of spinal mobility
Postural changes
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| How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed ? |
A diagnosis of ankylosing Spondylitis is usually made by a thorough physical and medical examination , family history and a series of investigations that include .
Blood work up - raised levels of red blood cells sedimentation rate and presence of anemia (low hemoglobin level) are associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis.
A tissue test - to confirm the presence of a human antigen of type HLA - B - 27
X- Ray - reveals hazy joint margins with widened joint spaces .In advanced stages, the spinal bones are fused together and the X-ray of the spine has a bamboo like appearance.
Physical examination :
A thorough physical examination is done to check for tenderness and pain sensitive areas along the back and pelvic region. During the examination the mobility of the individual is also assessed .
Medical history :
A past history of Ititis and gastrointestinal infections like Crohn's disease , or ulcerative colitis are checked for as it is most commonly found in association with Ankylosing Spondylitis.
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| Frequently asked questions |
Which Doctor should I consult for?
A Rheumatologist,General Physician or Orthopedic Surgeon.
Does Ankylosing Spondylitis affect all ages at the same rate and manner?
No, Ankolysing Spondylitis can affect all ages and there is no specific manner by which it could affect an individual .
Men - In men, it usually starts from the pelvis, and then gradually affects the spine , chest wall, hips, shoulder and feet.
Women - In women, it is usually mild and difficult to diagnose. The order of affection starts from pelvis and gradually affects hips, knees, ankles and wrist.
Children - In children, boys are affected more than girls. They rarely suffer from Back pain. The areas like Hip, Knee, Heels and Great- toe are affected first and the Spine is affected later.
Is Ankylosing Spondylitis a familial disease?
Ankylosing Spondylitis has hereditary influence but only one in five are affected.
Does pregnancy in an individual with Ankylosing Spondylitis cause any complication to the mother or her baby?
It does not involve any problem for mother or baby , however some medications taken by the mother can be harmful to the baby. Consult and discuss with your Doctor.
Is Anemia, an indication for Ankylosing Spondylitis?
No, Anemia is a disease where there is a deficiency of haemoglobin in the blood. It can be treated either by medication or blood transfusion (if necessary).In Ankylosing Spondylitis, anemia is an associated symptom, as the general constitution of the body is affected.
Any home based breathing exercise that could be done to relieve Ankylosing Spondylitis ? |
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Wearing loose clothing and avoiding tight straps around the chest and waist. |
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Choosing a calm and good ventilated area. |
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Lying on a firm surface or on the floor. |
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Deep breathing - Slowly breathe in till your stomach bulges out and slowly breathe out, till your stomach flattens. Do not try to hold your breath or do your breathing rapidly. Do this for 5 to 10 minutes |
| Glossary |
Posture - The normal alignment of all the segments of the body or the position of the body.
HLA-B-27 - HLA (Human Leucocytes Antigen) -B- 27 is a normal type of tissue found in very few persons. People with HLA -B27 are more susceptible to Ankylosing spondylitis.
HLA - Human Leucocytes Antigen are tissue antigens and they are related to immune system and they vary from person to person.
Replacement Surgery -This is a surgical operation where, the affected bones are removed and replaced by suitable artificial joint structures.
Reiter's Disease -This is a form of HLA - B- 27 related Reactive arthritis with symptoms of inflammation of Joints, Eyes and Urinary tract.
Pelvis -The Bone of the lower part of trunk.
Anemia - It is a deficiency disease, of haemoglobin in the blood.
Spondylometer - It is a scale of measurement to detect the affected level of spine in ankylosing spondylitis.
ESR - Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) is a blood test done to detect inflammation.
NSAID - Non- Steroidal Anti - Inflammatory Drugs, These are non-cortisone, non-addictive drugs that reduces pain and Inflammation.
Orthopedics - Orthopedics is a branch of medicine, which is related to diagnosis and treatment of diseases of Musculo- skeletal system.
Rheumatology - Rheumatology is a Medical specialty related to diagnosis and treatment of Joint diseases.
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