5-Minute Emergency Consult
Ankylosing Spondylitis
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Basics
Description
- Chronic inflammatory disease, primarily affects the axial skeleton with predilection toward the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints:
- SI joints 100%
- Cervical spine 75%
- Thoracic spine 70%
- LS spine 50%
- Hip joints 30%
- Shoulder joints 30%
- Spondylitis (inflammation of vertebrae) of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) begins at the insertions of the outer fibers of the annulus fibrosus (enthesitis) of the vertebrae:
- Ossification (syndesmophyte formation) may lead to complete fusion, ankylosis, of the vertebrae.
- Extensive spinal involvement causes the radiographic appearance of the brittle “bamboo spine.”
- Onset 15–35 yr of age
- Male to female ratio is between 2:1 and 3:1.
ALERT
AS patients are at 4 times the risk for fracture and paralysis compared to the general population. They are 11 times more likely to have spinal cord injuries.
Risk Factors
Genetics
Strong genetic component. HLA-B27 is present in 80–90% of patients with AS.
Etiology
Disease is likely triggered by environmental factors such as infection in genetically predisposed individuals.
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Basics
Description
- Chronic inflammatory disease, primarily affects the axial skeleton with predilection toward the spine and sacroiliac (SI) joints:
- SI joints 100%
- Cervical spine 75%
- Thoracic spine 70%
- LS spine 50%
- Hip joints 30%
- Shoulder joints 30%
- Spondylitis (inflammation of vertebrae) of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) begins at the insertions of the outer fibers of the annulus fibrosus (enthesitis) of the vertebrae:
- Ossification (syndesmophyte formation) may lead to complete fusion, ankylosis, of the vertebrae.
- Extensive spinal involvement causes the radiographic appearance of the brittle “bamboo spine.”
- Onset 15–35 yr of age
- Male to female ratio is between 2:1 and 3:1.
ALERT
AS patients are at 4 times the risk for fracture and paralysis compared to the general population. They are 11 times more likely to have spinal cord injuries.
Risk Factors
Genetics
Strong genetic component. HLA-B27 is present in 80–90% of patients with AS.
Etiology
Disease is likely triggered by environmental factors such as infection in genetically predisposed individuals.
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