Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Catherine Burt Driver, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and rheumatology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Dr. Driver is a member of the American College of Rheumatology. She currently is in active practice in the field of rheumatology in Mission Viejo, Calif., where she is a partner in Mission Internal Medical Group.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
Ankylosing spondylitis belongs to a group of
arthritis conditions which tend to cause chronic inflammation of the spine
(spondyloarthropathies).
Ankylosing spondylitis affects males two to three times more
commonly than females.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a cause of
back pain in
adolescents and young adults.
The tendency to develop ankylosing spondylitis is
genetically inherited.
The HLA-B27 gene can be detected in the blood of most
patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Ankylosing spondylitis can also affect the eyes, heart,
lungs, and occasionally the kidneys.
The optimal treatment of ankylosing spondylitis
involves medications that reduce inflammation or suppress immunity,
physical therapy, and exercise.
What is ankylosing spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form of chronic inflammation
of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. The sacroiliac joints
are located in the low back where the sacrum (the bone directly
above the tailbone) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side
of the upper buttocks). Chronic inflammation in these areas causes
pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic
inflammation of the spine (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing
together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process referred to as ankylosis.
Ankylosis leads to loss of mobility of the spine.
Picture of ankylosing spondylitis areas of inflammation
Ankylosing spondylitis is also a systemic disease, meaning it can affect other tissues throughout the body. Accordingly, it
can cause inflammation in or injury to other joints away from the spine, as
well as to other organs, such as the eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys.
Ankylosing spondylitis shares many features with several other
arthritis
conditions, such as psoriatic arthritis, reactive arthritis (formerly called Reiter's disease), and arthritis
associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.
Each of these arthritic conditions can cause disease and inflammation
in the spine, other joints, eyes, skin, mouth, and various organs.
In view of their similarities and tendency to cause inflammation
of the spine, these conditions are collectively referred to as
"spondyloarthropathies." Ankylosing spondylitis is considered one of the many rheumatic diseases because it can cause symptoms involving muscles and joints.
Ankylosing spondylitis is two to three times more common in men than in women. In women, joints away from the spine are more frequently affected than in men. Ankylosing spondylitis affects all age groups, including children. When it affects children, it is referred to as juvenile ankylosing spondylitis. The most common age of onset of symptoms is in the second and third decades of life. Ankylosing spondylitis is often abbreviated AS and has been referred to as Bechterew's disease.
Ankylosing Spondylitis - DiagnosisQuestion: Describe the tests and exams you received that led to a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. Do any relatives have it?
Ankylosing Spondylitis - SymptomsQuestion: The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
Ankylosing Spondylitis - Severity and ProgressionQuestion: Do you or a relative have ankylosing spondylitis? Please share its progression, along with treatments.
A healthy diet and exercise are good for
everyone, and they may be very helpful if you have AS. There is no specific diet
for people with AS, but keeping a healthy weight is important. It reduces stress
on painful joints. Omega-3 fatty acids, found in coldwater fish (such as tuna
and salmon), flax seeds, and walnuts, might reduce disease activity. This is
still being studied.
Exercise and stretching may help painful, stiff joints. It should be done
carefully and increased gradually. Before beginning an exercise program, it’s
important to speak with a doctor who can tailor exercises to your needs. Two
types of exercises may help:
Strengthening exercises
Range-of-motion exercises.
Many people with AS find
it helpful to exercise in water.
SOURCE:
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and
Crohn's disease is a chronic inflammatory disease,
primarily involving the small and large intestine, but which can
affect other parts of the digestive
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over
Bone spurs are pointy outgrowths of bone that develop in areas of inflammation or injury. They commonly occur on the heel and spine and may be the result
Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammation of the colon. Symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, and rectal bleeding. Ulcerative colitis is closely
Ankle pain is commonly due to a sprain or tendinitis. The severity of ankle sprains ranges from mild (which can resolve within 24 hours) to severe (which
Psoriatic arthritis is a disease that causes skin and joint inflammation. Symptoms include painful, stiff, and swollen joints, tendinitis, and organ inflammation.
Uveitis is inflammation of the eye. Symptoms include blurred vision, eye pain, eye redness, photophobia, and floaters. Treatment may involve prescription
Kyphosis is outward curvature of the thoracic spine (upper back). Abnormal kyphosis results in the appearance of a hunchback, which is accompanied by back
Juvenile arthritis (juvenile rheumatoid arthritis or JRA) annually affects one child in every thousand. There are three types of JRA: pauciarticular (less
Scleritis is inflammation of the white part of the eye. It may be caused by a serious underlying condition, such as an autoimmune disease. Symptoms include
Reactive arthritis is a chronic, systemic rheumatic disease characterized by three conditions, including conjunctivitis, joint inflammation, and genital,
Iritis is inflammation of the iris, the colored portion of the eye. Symptoms include a red, painful eye, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Treatment
A urinalysis is simply an analysis of the urine. It is a very common test that can be performed in many healthcare settings including doctors' offices, urgent care facilities, laboratories, and hospitals.
