What department should I go to for ankylosing spondylitis?

Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
Updated on September 17, 2024
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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.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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What tests are done for ankylosing spondylitis?

The main laboratory indicators for ankylosing spondylitis include the following: Testing for the B27 gene, formally known as HLA-B27 gene, which is hereditary and commonly found in male patients. Second, to determine if ankylosing spondylitis is in an active phase, inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein can be checked. Moreover, the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis must involve the sacroiliac joints being affected. Therefore, a CT scan and MRI of the sacroiliac joints can be conducted to determine if there are issues with the sacroiliac joints. If the patient shows symptoms of inflammatory lower back pain, has affected sacroiliac joints, tests positive for the B27 gene, and shows elevated inflammatory markers, then a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis can generally be confirmed.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis

The main symptom of ankylosing spondylitis is pain, characterized by pain in the lower back and lumbar region. The pain occurs during rest and diminishes with activity; it is especially severe at night, often waking the sufferer, who then finds mild activity alleviates the pain enough to return to sleep. As the disease progresses, chest pain and restricted rib cage movement begin, due to the disease spreading to the thoracic vertebrae and eventually reaching the cervical vertebrae in later stages, resulting in difficulty moving the neck. Early physical signs include tenderness in the sacroiliac joints and paraspinal muscles. X-rays can reveal that the sacroiliac joints are often the first to be affected, usually showing sacroiliitis. Additionally, there is a particularly high positivity rate for HLA-B27, the human leukocyte antigen B27, which can reach up to 90%, whereas it is typically around 4%-9% in the general population.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Ankylosing Spondylitis Diagnosis Methods

Ankylosing spondylitis is primarily characterized by involvement of the elbow joints, but it can also be accompanied by extra-articular manifestations such as iritis and pain in the heel, and severe cases may present with spinal stiffness and deformity. The cause of the disease is unclear, but studies suggest it is related to genetic and environmental factors, with a significant familial aggregation. Diagnosis requires a combination of clinical symptoms, blood tests including HLA-B27, and imaging such as CT or MRI of the sacroiliac joints to confirm inflammation or damage to these joints. To diagnose ankylosing spondylitis, these three criteria must be met. The most important factor is the presence of clinical symptoms that persist for more than three months, improve with activity, and do not significantly improve with rest. This is a typical characteristic of ankylosing spondylitis.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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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.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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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.