An inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting the spine, causing pain and progressive spinal fusion.
✦ AI summary
Here's what these sources cover on ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and related axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA):
**Spinal fractures and surgery risks:** Because AS causes long, stiffened spinal segments, fractures (especially in the neck) are a serious risk, and surgery for these fractures carries higher rates of complications like infection, blood clots, and hardware failure compared to a related condition called DISH, along with higher short- and long-term death rates after fracture surgery [1]. That said, among people who survive an AS-related neck fracture, long-term follow-up shows most regain independence, have only mild pain, and show solid bone healing on imaging [2].
**Related health risks:** Research suggests a possible causal link between osteoporosis (bone thinning) and AS [3], and AS has been associated with a higher likelihood of chronic sinus inflammation compared to the general population [9]. People with AS and similar rheumatic conditions also appear to have higher cardiovascular risk, though a large US study found many patients aren't reaching recommended cholesterol treatment targets [10]. There's also a documented case where TB screening before starting certain immune-suppressing AS treatments missed a serious infection, highlighting
This is an AI-generated summary of the sources below — not medical advice. Always talk to a doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.
Back painMorning stiffnessFatigueReduced spinal mobilityHip painEye inflammation
Evaluation of clinicopathological features of renal biopsies in non-lupus rheumatic diseases: a university hospital experience.
Renal involvement is a common condition in rheumatologic diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical presentations and histopathological results in patients diagnosed with non-lupus rheumatic diseases who underwent renal biopsy. The records of 900 renal biopsies performed at our hos…
Association between osteoporosis and arthritis: Results from the NHANES and Mendelian randomization study.
This study seeks to investigate associations of osteoporosis (OP) with arthritis and to assess causality using Mendelian randomization (MR). Firstly, an observational study was conducted using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The relationship between OP and arthritis wa…
Surgical outcomes following spinal fusion for cervical versus noncervical fractures in ankylosing spondylitis and DISH.
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) are 2 distinct spondyloarthropathies characterized by progressive spinal ankylosis. Despite their differing pathophysiologies, both conditions create long rigid spinal segments that are vulnerable to unstable fractures.…
Long-term functional and radiological outcomes among survivors of ankylosing spondylitis-associated cervical spine fractures: a cross-sectional follow-up study.
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are predisposed to unstable cervical spine fractures, often following low-energy trauma. While short-term outcomes have been described, long-term functional and radiological outcomes among survivors remain poorly characterized. Survivor cohort study with com…
Long-term rheumatologic comorbidities in familial Mediterranean fever.
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is characterized by pyrin inflammasome dysregulation and chronic subclinical inflammation. Whether FMF carries an increased long-term burden of rheumatologic and autoimmune inflammatory disease is unclear. We evaluated baseline and long-term occurrence of rheumatol…
Clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and disease activity outcomes in a Saudi Arabian axial spondyloarthritis cohort.
Real-world data on axial spondyloarthritis from Saudi Arabia remain limited. We described the demographic and clinical characteristics, comorbidity burden, cumulative advanced-therapy exposure, and 12-month disease activity outcomes of a Saudi tertiary-care axial spondyloarthritis cohort. We conduct…
Psychological Aspects of Rheumatic Diseases: Psychorheumatology in Clinical Practice.
Rheumatic diseases (RDs) significantly impact patients' physical, psychological, and social well-being, yet psychological dimensions remain inadequately addressed in routine clinical practice. In this commentary, we examine psychological manifestations and mental health comorbidities in RDs, such as…
Cardiovascular risk goal attainment in the United States rheumatologic population.
Rheumatologic diseases are independently linked to premature cardiovascular (CV) events. The emerging field of cardio-rheumatology addresses the intersection of inflammation and accelerated atherosclerosis driving excess CV risk. Despite calls to action, data on risk factor optimization, antihyperli…