Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), Neurologic Perspective

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Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Neurologic Overview
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Neurologic Causes
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Neurologic Symptoms
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Diagnosis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Neurologic Treatment
• Self-Care at Home
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Medications
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Surgery
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Prevention
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Prognosis
• Support Groups and Counseling for Ankylosing Spondylitis
• For More Information on Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Web Links
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Pictures
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Authors and Editors

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a long-term disease that affects the joints near the center of the body, especially the spine and sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints are located at the lowest end of the spine where the sacrum meets the iliac bone in the pelvis. AS can lead to eventual fusion of the spine. Peripheral joints away from the spine, such as the hips and knees, may also be involved.

AS also frequently involves inflammation at the points where the ligaments and tendons insert into the bones. As it progressively affects the spine, it can cause rigidity of the spine and loss of flexibility. It may also involve the hips, knees, and occasionally the small joints of the feet. Inflammation of the connective tissue of the undersurface of the foot (plantar fasciitis) may also occur.

Nonskeletal problems associated with AS may include inflammation of the iris or uvea (the colored portion of the eye), and less commonly inflammation of the aorta, scarring of the lungs (pulmonary fibrosis), amyloidosis (excess deposition of an abnormal protein in organs and tissues), and inflammatory bowel disease.

Neurological complications include C1-C2 subluxation (partial displacement of the first and second cervical vertebrae), a tendency for spinal fractures with minor trauma, spinal stenosis (narrowing) in the cervical (neck) or lumbar (low back) regions, chronic inflammatory cauda equina syndrome (compression of the low back nerve roots that causes paralysis and cuts off sensation to the legs), and radiculopathy (shooting pain caused by pressure on the nerves) secondary to fracture or compression of the nerve roots.

In the general population, 1.4% of people are affected with AS. AS is more common in males than in females. The male-to-female ratio is approximately 3:1. The peak onset is in adolescents and young adults 15-30 years of age.

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