• Home

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)

Toggle: English / Spanish

Ankylosing spondylitis

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Rheumatoid spondylitis; Spondylitis; Spondylarthropathy

Treatment:

Your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to reduce inflammation and pain.

Corticosteroid therapy or medications to suppress the immune system may be also prescribed. Drugs called TNF-inhibitors, which block an inflammatory protein, have been shown to improve the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis.

Some health care professionals use cytotoxic drugs (drugs that block cell growth) in people who do not respond well to corticosteroids or who are dependent on high doses of corticosteroids.

Surgery is done if pain or joint damage is severe.

Exercises can help improve posture and breathing. Lying flat on the back at night can help maintain normal posture.

Expectations (prognosis):

The course of the disease is unpredictable. Symptoms may come and go at any time. Most people are able to function unless the hips are severely involved.

Complications:

Damage of bone and cartilage can lead to fusing of joints in the spine or other areas, which can interfere with your ability to move. It can be extremely painful and crippling. The heart, the lungs, and the eyes may also become affected.

Complications include:

• Eye inflammation ( uveitis )
• Heart valve disease, typically aortic valve stenosis
• Inflammation of the aorta
• Pulmonary fibrosis

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis or if you have ankylosing spondylitis and new symptoms develop during treatment.

• Review Date: 4/27/2007
• Reviewed By: Steve Lee, DO, Rheumatology Fellow, Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process . A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 1997-2007 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.