Arthritis is an illness that causes pain & swelling in joints. Over a period of time joint may become severely damaged. The word "ARTHRITIS" literally means “Inflammation of Joint” i.e. swelling, heat, redness, pain & loss of function caused by tissue injury or disease in the joint..
Questions and Answers about Ankylosing Spondylitis | ||
What is Ankylosing
Spondylitis? |
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What Are
Spondyloarthropathies: |
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What Are Different
Subgroups of Spondyloarthropathies? |
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Who Is Affected? |
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What Are The Causes? |
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What Are The
Different Joints Involved? |
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What Are Other Symptoms of AS? | ||
How is low backache of Ankylosing Spondylitis Different From Other causes of Low backache | ||
How It Is Diagnosed? | ||
How Is It Treated? | ||
What Is
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What is Ankylosing
Spondylitis? Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a member of a group of diseases that attack the spine called spondyloarthropathies. The disease causes arthritis of SI joints, spine & can causes inflammation of the eyes, lungs, and heart valves. It varies from intermittent episodes of back pain that occur throughout life to a severe chronic disease that attacks the spine, peripheral joints and other body organs, resulting in severe joint & back stiffness, loss of motion & deformity as life progresses. |
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What Are
Spondyloarthropathies: These are a group of rheumatic diseases that share common clinical genetic & radiological features:
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What Are Different
Subgroups of Spondyloarthropathies?
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It commonly occurs below 40 years of age, males commonly affected. There is variations in different ethnic group and is most common in native Americans. |
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It is believed that interactions between genetic factor, HLAB27 and the environment factor (the bacterial infection) leads to immune response resulting in ankylosing spondylitis. |
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What Are The
Different Joints Involved? The joints involved are:
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What Are Other
Symptoms of AS? Some people have eye inflammation, more severe cases may develop heart valve involvement. Other may have fever, fatigue, weight loss, anemia. At times there may be associated inflammatory bowel disease. |
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How is low backache of Ankylosing Spondylitis Different From Other causes of Low backache | ||
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The diagnosis is a clinical one, combined with x-ray finding. Laboratory evaluation may reveal an elevated ESR, anaemia & positive HLA-B27 assay. X-rays & bone scan may show characteristics changes. |
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Early diagnosis is very important for good prognosis from this disease. Medical therapy comprises of NSAIDs (pain killers), indomethacin being the most effective of them and sulfasalazine (which is considered to have a disease modifying role). Unresponding peripheral arthritis may require treatment with methotrexate. Physical therapists may help by advising proper sleep & walking positions coupled with abdominal & back exercise, to maintain proper posture. Exercises to help maintain joint flexibility include aerobics & swimming. Breathing exercises are advisable as this disease is associated with decreased lung capacity. |
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Even with optimal treatment, some people will develop a stiff or "ankylosed" spine, but they will remain functional if this fusion occurs in an upright position. Continuing care is very important as AS is a lifelong problem, and people often fail to continue treatment, in which case permanent posture & mobility loss occurs. |
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