Prognosis for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a progressive disease also referred to as rheumatoid spondylitis. It is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily affects the spine and back but may spread to the joints, ligaments and organs of the body. According to the Spondylitis Association of America, individuals who have tested positive for the HLA-B27 gene have a higher risk of developing ankylosing spondylitis. If a family member has been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, an individual has a higher risk of developing the disease.

Facts

• According to the Spondylitis Association of America, 300,000 Americans have ankylosing, or rheumatoid, spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis occurs more often in men than in women. Five percent of spondylitis cases are diagnosed during childhood. The majority of spondylitis cases are diagnosed in individuals between the ages of 16 and 35. The disease often begins to manifest in the hips, knees and feet before progressing to the spine. The bones of the spine, hips, ribcage, chest, shoulders and knees may fuse together over a period of years. The body of an individual diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis may become rigid as the disease progresses.

Symptoms

• The onset, symptoms, progression, severity and prognosis of ankylosing spondylitis vary greatly among individuals diagnosed with the disease. Initial symptoms are pain and stiffness in the joints or the back. The pain and stiffness progress to other joints such as the knees and the shoulders. Fever, loss of appetite, fatigue, general malaise, body aches and eye inflammation may occur in advanced cases of ankylosing spondylitis.

Treatment

• Ankylosing, or rheumatoid, spondylitis symptoms are managed by medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying antirheumatoidic drugs (DMARDs), tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers and corticosteroids. Physical therapy is beneficial to some individuals who are not in advanced stages. Joint-replacement surgery brings relief to individuals whose joints have fused together. Spinal surgery rarely happens. When it does occur, it must be performed by surgeons highly experienced in that kind of surgery.

Prognosis

• There is no cure for ankylosing spondylitis. Very few individuals diagnosed with spondylitis will become severely disabled by the disease. Pain management, physical therapy and emotional support enable individuals with ankylosing spondylitis to cope with the disease and the physical deformities that may result from it.

Considerations

• Individuals with ankylosing spondylitis control symptoms through medication and physical therapy. Controlling body mechanics, deep breathing exercises, sleeping on a hard mattress, maintaining proper posture and exercising daily alleviate symptoms. Performing exercises to strengthen the neck and back muscles are effective in preventing stiffness. Individuals diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis are able to live normal, active lives.