Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints of the spine and those connecting to the spine, such as the sacroiliac joint. This is an arthritic condition involving stiffness in joints, with resultant pain and stiffness in the back and hips, and difficulty taking deep breaths, due to rib connection to spine. The underlying cause is thought to involve the autoimmune response (the body's immune system mistakenly attacks these joints). The age of onset is usually late teens or early 20's, with a male predominance. symptoms * Morning stiffness * Hip and shoulder pain * Stiffness improves with activity * Intermittent bouts of lower back pain (that may radiate to thighs) * Progressive limitation of back motion * Difficulty with chest expansion ("taking a deep breath") -- pleuritic chest pain is common * Arthritis (stiffness and/or pain) in other joints such as hips, shoulders, and knees * Uveitis (Blurred Vision, tearing, and light causes eye pain) * Rarely, heart and lungs may be affected. * Aortic root dilation * Aortic Regurgitation