Ankylosing Spondylitis Picture
Ankylosing spondylitis
(AS) is a chronic inflammatory form of arthritis that affects the spinal
joints. The hallmark feature of AS is the involvement of the joints at the
base of the spine where the spine joins the pelvis - the sacroiliac
joints.
The disease course is highly variable, and while some
individuals have episodes of transient back pain only, others have more chronic severe
back pain that leads to differing degrees of spinal stiffness over time. In almost all
cases the disease is characterized by acute painful episodes and remissions (periods where
the problem settles).
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