What is spinal ankylosis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that causes lower back pain. Symptoms, including hip pain and a stiff back that may come and go. Over time, vertebrae in the spinal column may fuse and become rigid (ankylosis).

What is the treatment for ankylosis?

Medications. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as naproxen (Naprosyn) and indomethacin (Indocin, Tivorbex) — are the medications doctors most commonly use to treat ankylosing spondylitis. They can relieve your inflammation, pain and stiffness.

Can you recover from ankylosing spondylitis?

There’s no cure for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), but treatment is available to help relieve the symptoms. Treatment can also help delay or prevent the process of the spine joining up (fusing) and stiffening. In most cases treatment involves a combination of: exercise.

What does ankylosing spondylitis do to your spine?

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that, over time, can cause some of the vertebrae in your spine to fuse.

What are the causes of cervical spine ankylosis?

Various causes of cervical spine ankylosis are illustrated, including diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis ( DISH ), ankylosing spondylitis, and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament ( OPLL ). Carrot stick fracture and subsequent Anderson lesion complications of ankylosing spondylitis are also depicted.

How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed in the UK?

Ankylosing spondylitis. More than 90% of those affected in the UK have a specific human leukocyte antigen known as the HLA-B27 antigen. The underlying mechanism is believed to be autoimmune or autoinflammatory. Diagnosis is typically based on the symptoms with support from medical imaging and blood tests.

Where is the SNP for ankylosing spondylitis located?

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) A/G variant rs10440635 close to the PTGER4 gene on human chromosome 5 has been associated with an increased incidence of ankylosing spondylitis in a population recruited from the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada.