Ankylosing spondylitis particularly affects the joints of the spine, as it is a chronic inflammatory disease in which there is a tendency of these joints to fuse, causing symptoms such as pain, loss of movement and less flexibility in the spine.
This disease is common in men 20 to 30 years old and less common in women, it is a genetic disease that can lead to disability, associated in some cases with other problems such as inflammatory bowel diseases or psoriasis, for example.
Some of the main symptoms caused by this disease include
Inflammatory shoots can also occur in places other than the spine and may appear in other joints such as shoulders, shoulders, wheels and tubes, causing pain and discomfort due to inflammation. In addition to the above symptoms, they are also associated with the onset of inflammatory uveitis, which causes pain and redness in the eyes, and that if left untreated can cause blindness. Learn what uveitis is and its main symptoms.
The pain caused by this disease is usually slow and progressive, and it is often impossible to identify when the first symptoms of the disease began to appear, which usually worsens in the last hours of the day and in humans, improving with daily activities and physical exercise.
The causes that lead to the onset of ankylosing spondylitis are unknown, however it has been identified that this disease is related to the presence of a specific antigen in the body called HLA-B27.
This antigen is genetically inherited among members of certain families, triggering an abnormal response in the body and causing the disease.
Diagnosis of this disease is made by observing and evaluating the physical symptoms manifested, in which the doctor assesses the characteristics of the pain and if there is a feeling of stiffness or limitation of movement in the region of the lumbar and cervical spine.
Confirmation of diagnosis may be done by x-rays using the pelvis and spine to identify changes in joints and vertebrae. In addition, in cases where x-rays identify changes, your doctor may also order a genetic test, which identifies the presence of the HLA-B27 antigen.
Ankylosing peddill, still incurable and ankylosing, can be treated with pain relievers, anti-inflammatories, and physical therapy, but surgery may be required in some cases, known as ankylosing spondylitis.