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Ankylosing spondylitis is one of a group of inflammatory rheumatic diseases
known as spondylarthropathies - these diseases are characterised by predominant
involvement of axial and peripheral joints and entheses (areas where tendons,
ligaments or joint capsules attach to bone). - ankylosing spondylitis
is a common seronegative spondylitis typically affecting the spine and sacroiliac
joints
- the prevalence amongst white males has been stated as about 0.5%
- however
NICE state that prevalence of 'clinically significant ankylosing spondylitis'
is about 0.15%
- annual incidence is 6.9 per 100,000 in the UK
- male
Caucasians are affected more severely and more often (3:1) than females. The mean
age of onset is between 26 years of age
- prevalence of ankylosing spondylitis
in a population mirrors the frequency of the associated HLA-B27
- aetiology
of ankylosing spondylitis probably has a genetic component as 90% of Caucasians
with the disease have the human leucocyte antigen HLA-B27, compared with around
10% of the general population of North and Central Europe
- the
disease is highly debilitating and can reduce quality of life as a result of stiffness,
pain, fatigue, poor sleep, anxiety or the unwanted effects of medication
-
reported unemployment rates are three times higher among people with ankylosing
spondylitis than in the general population
- about a third of people with
ankylosing spondylitis may be unable to work altogether, with a further 15% reporting
some changes to their working lives (2)
- ankylosing spondylitis
is associated with an increased risk of death: it is estimated that patients have
a standardised mortality ratio of 1.5 or greater (2)
- therapeutic intervention
aims to reduce inflammation and, therefore, pain and stiffness; to alleviate systemic
symptoms such as fatigue; and to slow or stop the long-term progression of the
disease, particularly the progressive loss of spinal mobility caused by ankylosis
of the spine
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