Ankylosing spondylitis

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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing ankylosing spondylitis Ankylosing spondylitis

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Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that can cause some of the vertebrae in your spine to fuse together. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched-forward posture. A severe case of ankylosing spondylitis can make it impossible for you to lift your head high enough to see forward.

Ankylosing spondylitis affects men more often than women. Signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis typically begin in early adulthood. Inflammation also can occur in other parts of your body — such as your eyes and bowels.

There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but treatments can decrease your pain and lessen your symptoms.

Symptoms
References
  1. Braveman SE. Ankylosing spondylitis. In: Frontera WR, et al. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation: Musculoskeletal Disorders, Pain, and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50112-7&isbn=978-1-4160-4007-1&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4007-1..50112-7--cesec5&uniqId=228570791-3. Accessed Nov. 30, 2010.
  2. Yu DT. Clinical manifestations of ankylosing spondylitis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 30, 2010.
  3. Mercier LT. Ankylosing spondylitis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011: Instant Diagnosis and Treatment. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2011. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00010-X--sc0225&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&sid=1090462943&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00010-X--sc0225&uniqId=228720493-4#4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..00010-X--sc0225. Accessed Nov. 30, 2010.
  4. Yu DT. Treatment and prognosis of ankylosing spondylitis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 30, 2010.
  5. Inman RD. Clinical subsets of the spondyloarthropathies: Ankylosing spondylitis. In: Goldman L, et al. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50291-3--cesec29&isbn=978-1-4160-2805-5&sid=1090462943&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50291-3--cesec33&uniqId=228720493-4#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2805-5..50291-3--cesec33. Accessed Nov. 30, 2010.
  6. Van der Linden SM, et al. Ankylosing spondylitis. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10070-1&isbn=978-1-4160-3285-4&sid=1090462943&type=bookPage&sectionEid=4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10070-1&uniqId=228720493-4#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10070-1. Accessed Nov. 30, 2010.
DS00483 Feb. 3, 2011

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