ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS / HLA B 27 POSITIVITY

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rare type of arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in your spine. This lifelong condition, usually starts in your lower back. It can spread up to your neck or damage joints in other parts of your body.

AS often starts in your sacroiliac joints, where your spine connects to your pelvis. It can affect places where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones. It can even cause your vertebrae to fuse together.

Clinical features

Early signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis might include pain and stiffness in your lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity. Neck pain and fatigue also are common. Over time, symptoms might worsen, improve or stop at irregular intervals.

In severe ankylosing spondylitis, new bone forms as part of the body’s attempt to heal. This new bone gradually bridges the gap between vertebrae and eventually fuses sections of vertebrae. Those parts of your spine become stiff and inflexible. Fusion can also stiffen your rib cage, restricting your lung capacity and function.
Other complications might include:

• Eye inflammation (uveitis). One of the most common complications of ankylosing spondylitis, uveitis can cause rapid-onset eye pain, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. See your doctor right away if you develop these symptoms.

• Compression fractures. Some people’s bones thin during the early stages of ankylosing spondylitis. Weakened vertebrae can crumble, increasing the severity of your stooped posture. Vertebral fractures can put pressure on and possibly injure the spinal cord and the nerves that pass through the spine.

• Heart problems. Ankylosing spondylitis can cause problems with your aorta, the largest artery in your body. The inflamed aorta can enlarge to the point that it distorts the shape of the aortic valve in the heart, which impairs its function.

Treatment

• NSAIDS

• TNF Blockers-
The five TNF blockers approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat ankylosing spondylitis are:
1. Adalimumab
2. Certolizumab pegol
3. Etanercept
4. Golimumab
5. Infliximab