Ankylosing spondylitis affects mainly teenagers

The evolution takes place long term. Current epidemiological data indicate that ankylosing spondylitis is at least as common as rheumatoid arthritis, so depending on the prevalence of HLA B27 antigen, the incidence of ankylosing spondylitis is between 0.5 and 1.9%. Often the first symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis appear gradually and can include frequent pain and stiffness in lower back.

Men are worst affected. The incidence is 2 to 3 times higher in men, more often in young men. Particularly affects young people aged between 15 and 40 years. Recent studies show that patients are affected by disease in the most productive life. Unlike rheumatoid arthritis which can occur at any age, ankylosing spondylitis affects mainly young people.

Affect the working capacity. The disease (severe, chronic disability) makes a large number of patients to interrupt their professional activity, which substantially strengthen the social costs of disease. This disease affects not only the quality of life, but also the ability to work.

Although ankylosing spondylitis severity varies from person to person, some people become disabled, those suffering from ankylosing may suffer progressive multiple deformities.

The causes are unknown. Ankylosing spondylitis causes are unknown, but genetics has an important role: 95% of patients suffering from ankylosing spondylitis shows a common genetic marker called HLA B27. But just because a person has this genetic marker does not mean you will develop the disease.

Symptoms. Besides back pain, other symptoms can be: loss of appetite, fatigue, anemia, eye inflammation (uveitis) and gastrointestinal events. Approximately 30% of those suffering from ankylosing spondylitis shows an intestinal inflammation and at a rate of 5% or 10% of patients it can turn into an inflammatory disease with unpleasant symptoms. As the disease progresses, the spine can cause inflammation, thereby limiting patient mobility.

Diagnosis and treatment. Ankylosing spondylitis can be diagnosed because of specific symptoms by clinical examination, blood tests, x-rays, MRI. Conventional treatments for AS include anti-inflammatory agents, disease modifiers, steroids, acting on the symptoms but do not stop disease progression. Biological therapy (anti-TNF agents) has proven an efficient action in treating both the symptoms and stop progression of joint lesions.

Systemic damage can occur during ankylosing spondylitis or the onset of its characteristic as eye damage, heart, lung, kidney. These are followed by considerable premature mortality and significant reduction in life expectancy of patients.

One study found that of 529 patients with ankylosing, 5% were retired in the first year after diagnosis, 13% after 5 years, 21% after 10 years, 23% after 15 years and 31 % after 20 years.

Another study published in 2001 specifies that 31% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (42.2% of women with this diagnosis) can not work due to the disease and 15% of that dropped a job because of physical condition.