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Interesting Facts About Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic disease that causes pain in the joints between vertebrae and between the spine and the pelvis. The disease may also cause pain in other parts of the body.

  1. Genetics

    • No specific cause has been found for ankylosing spondylitis, but patients with the HLA-B27 gene are at significantly higher risk of developing the disease, according to MayoClinic.com.

    Risk Factors

    • Men are more likely than women to develop the disease. The disease usually strikes those between late adolescence and age 40.

    Eyes

    • This disease may cause eye inflammation, which can lead to blurred vision and sensitivity to light.

    Heart

    • The heart's valves may become inflamed if the inflammation reaches the heart. This could cause the aorta to become distorted (aortic valve regurgitation).

    Smoking

    • Patients with this disease should quit smoking immediately, according to MayoClinic.com. Ankylosing spondylitis may make breathing more difficult, and smoking could add to that difficulty.

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