Master Ankylosing Spondylitis with Picmonic for Medicine

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Ankylosing Spondylitis

Anchor Spine

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Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, which mainly effects the spine and sacroiliac joints of the pelvis. It can eventually lead to fusion of the vertebrae ("bamboo spine"), and has a high association with HLA-B27. This disease is more prevalent in males and usually presents at the age of 23. Patients with this chronic inflammatory disease may also have uveitis and aortic regurgitation, as they are commonly associated with ankylosing spondylitis.

5 KEY FACTS

This disease is a chronic inflammatory arthritis which effects the axial skeleton. It is seronegative, meaning there is no rheumatoid factor (circulating IgG antibody). Ankylosing spondylitis mainly affects the spine and sacroiliac joints.

This arthritic disease causes chronic inflammation of the spine. Some patients experience eventual fusion of the vertebrae and complain of rigidity of the spine. Radiologic imaging in this scenario shows fusion which is termed "bamboo spine."

Human leukocyte antigen B27 is strongly associated with inflammatory diseases known as spondyloarthropathies, including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, and Reiter's syndrome.

Roughly 40% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis also experience uveitis, which is inflammation of the anterior chamber of the eye. Patients complain of eye redness, pain, photophobia and vision loss.

Though less commonly associated, many patients also experience aortic regurgitation with ankylosing spondylitis.

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