Ankylosing Spondylitis eMedicine Neurology

Description: Synonyms and related keywords: ankylosing spondylitis, Marie-Strümpell arthritis, Bechterew disease, spondyloarthritis, spondyloarthropathy, chronic inflammatory conditions, AS, inflammation of the joints, inflammation of the tendons, inflammation of the ligaments, iritis, uveitis, aortitis, pulmonary fibrosis, amyloidosis, inflammatory bowel disease
Author: Alan Schaffert, MD, Past Chief of Staff, Doctor's Medical Center of Modesto; Voluntary Clinical Faculty, Department of Medicine, University of California at Davis
Spondyloarthritis or spondyloarthropathy refers to a group of chronic inflammatory conditions affecting the joints, tendon and ligament attachments, and sometimes nonskeletal structures. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is one of these inflammatory diseases. It primarily affects the axial joints, including the spine and sacroiliac joints. It causes eventual fusion of the spine. Peripheral joints may be involved.