Ankylosing Spondylitis

This is a type of arthritis that generally affects the young male population (< 45years). These patients present with early morning stiffness of the lower back, alternating buttock pain, asymmetrical joint pains, and swelling generally of lower limbs. Some patients can have eye redness (uveitis), repeated urinary infections, heart involvement, etc. This is an autoimmune disease with various genetic and environmental predisposing factors and usually starts from sacroiliac joints. Around 90% of patients have HLAB27 positivity. If not treated adequately and timely, it can lead to ankylosis of the spine and permanent deformities of various other joints. This is treated very well with NSAIDs and various biologicals which are now available.