Subscribe
Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis Test Items
Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic disease of unknown cause, primarily characterized by chronic inflammation of the axial joints. It mainly affects the sacroiliac joints and leads to bony ankylosis, predominantly occurring in males, especially young males. The disease has a significant familial genetic tendency. The main symptoms are pain or discomfort in the lower back and back, typically occurring at night, accompanied by difficulty turning over. Stiffness is evident in the morning or after sitting for a long time, but symptoms may alleviate after physical activity. In young and middle-aged males showing these symptoms, ankylosing spondylitis should be suspected first. The main diagnostic methods include blood tests for HLA-B27, and imaging such as CT or MRI of the sacroiliac joints to detect any sacroiliitis. Diagnosis primarily relies on the combination of symptoms, HLA-B27 results, and sacroiliac joint CT findings.
How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed?
Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease that cannot be cured but can be managed primarily through medication. Its main typical symptoms include stiffness in the neck or pain in the lower back, with the pain becoming more apparent when at rest or after sitting for a long time. Symptoms tend to improve with movement. A typical occurrence is pain that awakens the patient at night. Peripheral joints like the knee joint and heel can also be affected. However, the main symptoms are stiffness in the neck and pain in the lower back. Diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis requires combining symptoms with a positive B27 blood test result, and imaging tests such as CT or MRI of the sacroiliac joints, showing signs of sacroiliitis, narrowing or damage in the sacroiliac joint space, to confirm the diagnosis.
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), where "A" stands for fusion and "S" for spine, refers to the condition where the bones and joints of the spine are fused together. Ankylosing Spondylitis is defined as a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton and major limb joints. It is characterized by fibrosis and ossification of the intervertebral discs’ annulus fibrosus and nearby connective tissues, as well as ankylosis (stiffening) of the joints. It presents as a sterile inflammation occurring in the spine. However, it is not solely limited to the spine as it also involves the axial bones and major limb joints. The pathological hallmark of the disease includes inflammation mainly at the sacroiliac joints and points of attachment to the spine, leading to joint stiffness and calcification of the spinal ligaments and joints. The disease progression begins at the sacroiliac joint, spreading upwards through the entirety of the spine, and eventually stops at the cervical vertebrae. Symptoms start with pain in the early stages, followed by restricted mobility in the intermediate phase, and ultimately leading to deformities of the abdomen and back, culminating in severe hunchback. The exact cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis remains unclear, with various theories proposed but none universally accepted. Additionally, it is categorized under rheumatologic and immunologic disorders.
Does ankylosing spondylitis cause buttock pain?
Ankylosing spondylitis may cause buttock pain. It primarily affects the axial joints, and can be accompanied by extrarticular manifestations. This condition leads to stiffening and deformity of the spine, and it cannot be cured, only managed with medication to slow the progression of the disease, delay joint deformity, improve quality of life, and reduce disability rates. Its clinical manifestations vary widely, and its onset is often insidious. Men are more commonly affected and tend to experience more severe symptoms. The most common symptoms include stiffness in the neck or pain in the lumbar and back areas. However, some people may experience pain in the lower back, accompanied by morning stiffness, or alternating pain in the buttocks, or radiating pain from the groin to the lower limbs. This pain is often worse at night or after prolonged sitting, but symptoms can lessen after activity.
What injections are used for ankylosing spondylitis?
Firstly, ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease primarily characterized by the destruction of axial joints, a chronic condition that can also manifest peripheral joint lesions. Currently, there are no definitive cures, meaning long-term medication is necessary to alleviate symptoms, control disease progression, delay joint deformity, reduce disability, and improve quality of life. This constitutes the overall goal of treatment. The preferred treatments are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and biologic agents. However, before using biologic agents, it is essential to complete routine blood tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, screenings for infectious diseases, and tuberculosis. After excluding infections, tuberculosis, and tumors, biologic agents can be administered. During the use of biologic agents, there is a risk of reduced immunity, making it easy to contract infections. Therefore, it is important to avoid getting cold, overwork, and to regularly recheck routine blood parameters, liver, and kidney functions.
What department should I go to for ankylosing spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is an idiopathic systemic disease primarily characterized by chronic inflammation of the axial joints, mainly involving the sacroiliac joint. The typical onset age ranges from 10 to 14 years, and it is more common in males. It is not hereditary, but there is a familial predisposition. If there is a family history, and localized pain or discomfort is present, especially if there is difficulty turning over at night, stiffness after waking or after prolonged sitting or standing, which eases with activity, it is important to be alert. This condition falls under rheumatic immune diseases, therefore, it should be managed by a rheumatology immunology department, not orthopedics.
Is ankylosing spondylitis hereditary?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic autoimmune disease of unclear etiology characterized by chronic inflammation primarily affecting the axial joints, mainly involving the sacroiliac joint. The cause is unclear, and research by experts has shown that the disease tends to run in families, indicating familial clustering. It is not classified as a genetic disease, but there is both familial clustering and a genetic predisposition, meaning that if parents have the disease, their children are much more likely to develop it compared to others. Therefore, if symptoms such as lower back pain or neck stiffness occur, it is advisable to undergo thorough examinations and seek early diagnosis and treatment to delay joint deformity and control the progression of the disease.
Does ankylosing spondylitis have a genetic component?
Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease primarily affecting the axial joints. The onset is determined by both genetic and environmental factors, leading to the disease. This means that the disease exhibits a significant familial aggregation and genetic predisposition. If the parents have it, the incidence in their children is much higher than in others. However, it is definitely not a genetic disease; it just has familial clustering and genetic tendencies. If symptoms like stiffness in the neck or pain in the lower back intensify when at rest and decrease after activity, it is essential to use CT or MRI scans and test for HLA-B27 to check for damage or narrowing in the sacroiliac joints. Early diagnosis and early treatment are crucial to improve the prognosis of the condition.
Does ankylosing spondylitis spread by contagion?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic autoimmune disease of unknown cause, primarily affecting the axial joints, mainly involving the sacroiliac joints, and commonly occurring in young and middle-aged males. The symptoms of this disease are severe, progress rapidly, and there is a genetic predisposition, but it is not a contagious disease and does not have infectivity. If a patient with ankylosing spondylitis also contracts another infectious disease, it is because the other disease is infectious, not because ankylosing spondylitis is. It belongs to autoimmune diseases and cannot be cured, but can only be managed with medication to delay the onset of joint deformity.
Ankylosing Spondylitis Exercise Methods
Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects the axial joints and currently has no curative treatment. Its treatment includes general measures, medication, and surgery. General measures mainly involve abstaining from alcohol, quitting smoking, avoiding carbonated drinks and coffee, which can lead to osteoporosis. In addition, it is important to focus on exercise; functional exercises are a crucial part of its treatment. Regular activities such as swimming, walking, and running are recommended, and chest-expanding exercises can improve muscle rigidity. Moreover, it is advisable to sleep on a hard bed to keep the spine level. Swimming is the best form of exercise for patients with ankylosing spondylitis as it does not overload the joints while also enhancing the coordination and flexibility of the limb muscles.