Ankylosing spondylitis
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What is ankylosing spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a form ofinflammatory arthritis. It affects the joints of the spine, in particular thesacroiliac joint at the bottom of the spine. Ankylosing spondylitis causes the swelling of theligaments, discs and joints between the vertebrae of the spine. Symptoms include pain and stiffness in the lower back and over time, fusion of the vertebrae can occur.
Ligaments
Short, flexible fibrous tissue that connects the bones and cartilage of joints.
Sacroiliac joint
The joint that connects the spine to the pelvis.
Inflammatory arthritis
A group of conditions in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the joints. It can also affect other tissues and organs.
Causes
The specific cause of ankylosing spondylitis is unknown, althoughgenetic factors appear to play a role. The presence of a specificgene that produces theantigenHLA-B27, is found in nine ou