musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Key Points
Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic disorder that affects axial and peripheral joints and can cause constitutional symptoms, cardiac symptoms, and anterior uveitis. Initial manifestation is usually inflammatory back pain and stiffness sometimes along with peripheral joint symptoms and/or anterior uveitis. Diagnose based on the results of lumbosacral spine imaging, sacroiliac joint imaging, pelvic MRI, blood tests (erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and complete blood count), and/or explicit clinical criteria. Use nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to help reduce symptom severity and improve function. Usesulfasalazine,methotrexate, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha antagonists, or interleukin-17 (IL-17) antagonists to relieve joint symptoms. 