Ankylosing Spondylitis

Question 1

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of the axial skeleton, large peripheral joints, and digits

Question 2

Who is AS commonly seen in?

Answer 2

Men 3:1.

Question 3

What causes AS?

Answer 3

Unknown - Could be an immune-mediated inflammation that is recurrent and progressive

Question 4

Which part of the body is mostly affected in AS?

Answer 4

Spine and Sacroiliac joints

Other areas: neck

Question 5

What ends up happening to patients body when they get AS?

Answer 5

Permanent stiffness in the back or neck. (Bamboo spine.)

Question 6

How does the permanent stiffness in AS develop?

Answer 6

There is Inflammation of the enthesis - sites where tendon and ligaments insert into the bone.
This causes original bone to degrade and proliferate. These areas then ossify causing new bone to grow around the joints.

Question 7

What would a patient with AS feel?

Answer 7

Pain from Bilateral inflammation of SI joint for no apparent reason/trauma or injury
Morning stiffness of lower back lasting more than 1 hour. Rest doesn’t help, sometimes physical activity can help. Stiffness in back neck and bum

Question 8

In order to diagnose AS we need:

Answer 8

X-Rays of spine
Blood tests and:
LBP and stiffness for about 3 months, which improved by exercise not rest
Decreased ROM of Lsp, and thorax

Question 9

What could happen to the spine in severe cases of AS?

Answer 9

Extra bone can fuse the bones in the spine together, stopping the spine from moving.

Question 10

What could be the consequences of the spine fusing?

Answer 10

Bent or forward stooped posture, which can cause compromised pulmonary function and inability to lie flat.