Disease or Syndrome
ankylosing spondylitis
an·ky·los·ing spon·dy·li·tis
Subclass of:
Axial Spondyloarthritis
Also called:
Rheumatoid spondylitis
Definitions related to ankylosing spondylitis:
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A disease that leads to swelling between the disks of the spine and in the joints where the pelvis and spine meet. Causes back pain and stiffness and can limit movement.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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An autoimmune chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by inflammation in the vertebral joints of the spine and sacroiliac joints. It predominantly affects young males. Patients present with stiffness and pain in the spine.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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An immune-mediated disease characterized by inflammation in the axial skeleton including sacroiliac joints, vertebrae and vertebral joints. Peripheral joints may be involved as well. Clinical features can include low back pain and stiffness, limited motion of the lumbar spine, and limited chest expansion.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis of the spine. It causes inflammation between your vertebrae, which are the bones that make up your spine, and in the joints between your spine and pelvis. In some people, it can affect other joints. AS is more common and more severe in men. It often runs in families. The cause is unknown, but it is likely that both genes and factors in the environment play a role. Early symptoms of AS include back pain and stiffness. These problems often start in late adolescence or early adulthood. Over time, AS can fuse your vertebrae together, limiting movement. Some people have symptoms that come and go. Others have severe, ongoing pain. A diagnosis of AS is based on your medical history and a physical examination. You may also have imaging or blood tests. AS has no cure, but medicines can relieve symptoms and may keep the disease from getting worse. Eating a healthy diet, not smoking, and exercising can also help. In rare cases, you may need surgery to straighten the spine. NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin DiseaseMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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(spondylitis, ankylosing) A chronic inflammatory condition affecting the axial joints, such as the SACROILIAC JOINT and other intervertebral or costovertebral joints. It occurs predominantly in young males and is characterized by pain and stiffness of joints (ANKYLOSIS) with inflammation at tendon insertions.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Ankylosing spondylitis is the prototypical spondyloarthropathy and a systemic disorder characterized by inflammation of the axial skeleton, large peripheral joints, and digits; nocturnal back pain; back stiffness; accentuated kyphosis; constitutional symptoms; aortitis; cardiac conduction abnormalities; and anterior uveitis. Diagnosis...Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
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Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that, over time, can cause some of the small bones in your spine (vertebrae) to fuse. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched-forward posture. If ribs are affected, it can be difficult to breathe deeply.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a type of chronic, inflammatory arthritis that mainly affects the spine. It usually begins with inflammation of the joints between the pelvic bones and spine, gradually spreading to the joints between the vertebrae. Signs and symptoms usually begin in adolescence or early adulthood and may include back pain...National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
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Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic progressive inflammatory arthropathy predominantly affecting the spine and sacroiliac joints. Patients present with severe pain and spinal stiffness, which ultimately may lead to spinal fusion. In a study with AS patients who had 17 years of follow-up, approximately 20% had evidence of complete...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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