Ankylosing Spondylitis, Rheumatologic 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) is a type of arthritis that causes inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints (joints between the lowest end of the spine, the sacrum, and the pelvis). The affected joints and ligaments become swollen and painful, leading to stiffness in the back and neck. As the disease progresses, the vertebrae can fuse together, making the spine rigid and inflexible, eventually making the joints immovable. Ankylosing spondylitis can also affect other joints away from the spine as well as cause inflammation of tendons and ligaments.

Ankylosing spondylitis affects approximately 0.1-0.2% of the population. It most commonly affects young males, but females can be affected. Females often experience a somewhat less severe form of the disease.

The usual age of onset is from the late teens to 40 years of age. Approximately 10-20% of all people with ankylosing spondylitis have onset of symptoms when younger than 16 years, and this form of AS is referred to as juvenile-onset ankylosing spondylitis.

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