ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS (AS) - PATIENT INFORMATION
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS (AS) - PATIENT INFORMATION What is Ankylosing spondylitis? It is a type of spondyloarthritis, an autoimmune disease which targets the spine predominantly. Ankylos- stiffening of joint Spondlyo – vertebrae What causes Ankylosing spondylitis? Exact cause is unknown. Most autoimmune disease have genetic risk factors and environmental triggers which dysregulate immune system. The immune system starts attacking the joints & other structures. In AS, it attacks the sacroiliac joints, joints of the vertebrae, hip & occasionally the other joints. It may also attack other structures including the eyes. In what way is Ankylosing spondylitis different from other arthritis like Rheumatoid arthritis? In Rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation of joints is the hallmark whereas in AS the sites where ligaments and tendons attach to bones called entheses are inflamed. Rheumatoid arthritis predominantly affects the hand & feet joints as well as large joints like the knee, an