There are over a hundred forms of arthritis and one form of arthritis that primarily affects the spine is called Ankylosing spondylitis. It is one of a group of arthritic diseases which is known as spondyloarthropathies. This condition is seen to cause severe inflammation of the spine. This inflammation results to pain, swelling, difficulty moving and stiffness in the joints that is between the ilium and the sacrum. Ankylosing spondylitis can also lead to inflammation in the heart valves, lungs or eyes.
How does this disease progresses in the body?
Ankylosing spondylitis produces inflammation in the tendons and ligaments where the vertebrae are connected. In time this inflammation brought some damage to the bone, the body’s response to heal the damage is to grow a new bone. This new bone growth now substitutes the elastic soft tissue thus fuse the joints of the vertebrae. The fusion further causes pain and stiffness. This pain and stiffness usually starts at the base of the spine or in the pelvis and begins to spread up through the back and up to the neck. Other larger joints in the heels, legs and arms and even the shoulder and the hips can be affected.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a rare condition, in fact 129 out of 100,000 individuals in the United States have these diseases that is according to American College of Rheumatology (Arthritis and Rheumatism 2008). It has a tendency to develop in individuals whose parents have it and its presence is much seen among white Europeans, Native Americans and a few Asians excluding Japanese.
This disease usually affects individuals in their late teens and early adulthood. It can be very severe or mild. The most important thing is that early diagnosis of the problem can control the stiffness and pain thus lessens the possibility of any disability.
Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis
The specific cause of this condition is unknown but it is seen that genetic factors seems to play an important role in it. For individuals who have Ankylosing spondylitis, around 95% of them have genetic marker called human leukocyte antigen-B27 (HLA-B27). Figures shows that about eight people in one hundred American Caucasians have the HLA-B27 gene at birth. This gene is less seen with African Americans though.
The HLA markers let the body immune system to tell between “self” and “other”. This condition is often cause by specific types of viral or bacterial infections which activate the immune system which do not shut off even after the infection is healed. The end result is that the immune system attacks the body’s own tissue. This is what you call an autoimmune disease.
Who is at Risk of Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Individuals whose parents have this diseases increase their chances of having the same condition. This condition usually strikes individuals in their adolescents and early adulthood stage. Although it can develop in children but it is quite rare. This disease often strikes individuals from age ten and above. If symptoms begun to appear before age 17 then the condition is called juvenile ankylosing spondylitis. One of every one thousand child may develop juvenile ankylosing spondylitis according to Spondylitis Association of America.
It is also observe that more men develop this disease than women, in fact about three times more often than women. Besides the condition affects women and men in a different way. Most often Ankylosing spondylitis in women is less severe than men. Men usually have the inflammation in their shoulders, chest wall, pelvis and spine while women will most likely to have the inflammation in their wrists, knees, hips and pelvis.
People with Ankylosing Spondylitis can lead a normal and productive life as long as the condition is just managed well like a little adjustment in their lifestyle. Living an active life is the best way to treat ankylosing spondylitis. Regular exercise combined with appropriate medical management can relieve you of symptoms. It is important then that proper diagnosis of the problem is done as early as possible so that management of such disease is started early.