Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a worldwide disease affecting approximately 1% of men and 0.49% of women in the Caucasian population. primarily a spinal disorder, the disease can affect most tissues and there is an intimate relationship with inflammatory bowel (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis), skin (psoriasis) and eye (iritis) disease. the disease typically occurs in the late teen years or early twenties with a course that may be mild or very severe. osteoporosis is a common accompaniment with fractures occurring in severe disease. Fatigue can present an intractable problem. treatment includes exercise, nSaids and, in severe disease, tnF therapy, which has revolutionized the prognosis for such patients. the role of hla- B27 (present in 40–95% of cases) remains poorly defined and the nature of the putative role of infective triggers is still unclear.