Ankylosing Spondylitis

Question 1

What is Ankylosing Spondylitis

Answer 1

Sacroiliac and Vertebral joint swelling due to new bony formation

Question 2

What are the RF for Ankylosing Spondylitis

Answer 2

Young
Male
HLAB27

Question 3

What is the pathology of Ankylosing

Answer 3

Syndesmophytes replace Inflamed spinal damage
Decrease mobility

Decrease mobility

Question 4

What is the typical patient presentation with Ankylosing

Answer 4

Young male w/ Progressive back Stiffness
Worse in morning and night
Better with use

Question 5

What are the presentations of Ankylosing

Answer 5

Back stiffness better with use 
Anterior Uveitis
Enthosistis
Dactylitis
Decrease Lumbar Lordosis ->Kyphosis
Low Lumbar Flexion

Question 6

How is Lumbar flexion tested in Ankylosing

Answer 6

SCHOBER Test shows <20cm flexion

Question 7

How is Ankylosing Investigated

Answer 7

Xray = Bamboo spine, Syndesmophytes and square vertebral bodies
MRI = Sacroilitis
Bloods = Raised ESR/CRP
HLAB27 Positive

Question 8

What does the X ray show for Ankylosing

Answer 8

Bamboo spine
Syndesmophytes
Vertebral square bodies

Question 9

What are syndesmophwytes

Answer 9

Abnormal joining of lateral spine bodies

Question 10

How is Ankylosing managed

Answer 10

Symptom relief = NSAID

Improvement = TNF-Alpha (Infliximab)

Question 11

What is the Schober test

Answer 11

Bending has <20cm lumbar flexion