National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Ankylosing Spondylitis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine 
National Institutes of Health
Ankylosing Spondylitis
Also called: Rheumatoid spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis of the spine. It causes swelling between your vertebrae, which are the disks that make up your spine, and in the joints between your spine and pelvis. Ankylosing spondylitis is an immune disease. The disease is more common and more severe in men. It often runs in families.
Early symptoms include back pain and stiffness. These problems often start in late adolescence or early adulthood. Over time, ankylosing spondylitis can fuse your vertebrae together, limiting movement. Symptoms can worsen or improve or stop altogether. The disease has no cure, but medicines can relieve the pain, swelling and other symptoms. Exercise can also help.
NIH: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Disease
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Start Here
- Ankylosing Spondylitis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
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Ankylosing Spondylitis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Also available in Spanish
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The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:
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Overviews
- Spondylitis: Frequently Asked Questions(Spondylitis Association of America)
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What Is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
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Latest News
- Vitamin D and Ankylosing Spondylitis(08/01/2012, Spondylitis Association of America)
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Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis(Spondylitis Association of America)
- HLA-B27(American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
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Inflammatory Back Pain vs. Mechanical Back Pain
(Spondylitis Association of America)
- Symptoms of Ankylosing Spondylitis(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Treatment
- Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Alternative Therapy
- Alternative Treatments for Ankylosing Spondylitis(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Nutrition
- Ankylosing Spondylitis: Diet and Nutrition(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Disease Management
- Exercise(Spondylitis Association of America)
- Posture(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Specific Conditions
- Complications: How Is a Person Affected?(Spondylitis Association of America)
- Spondyloarthritis (Spondyloarthropathy)(American College of Rheumatology)
- Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy (uSpA)(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Pictures & Photographs
- Spine, Hip & Shoulder Diagrams(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Spondylitis, Ankylosing(National Institutes of Health)
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Spondylitis, Ankylosing
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Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Ankylosing spondylitis(National Library of Medicine)
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Genetics Home Reference: Ankylosing spondylitis
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Research
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Scientists Gain New Insights into Genetic Mechanisms of Ankylosing Spondylitis(National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases)
- Suppression of Inflammation and Effects on New Bone Formation in Ankylosing Spondylitis(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Scientists Gain New Insights into Genetic Mechanisms of Ankylosing Spondylitis
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Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Management of pregnancy with ankylosing spondylitis.
- Article: Case 1-2012: ANCA associated glomerulonephritis in combination with IgG4-positive mediastinal...
- Article: Measures of symptoms and disease status in ankylosing spondylitis: Ankylosing...
- Ankylosing Spondylitis -- see more articles
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Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Spondylitis Medical Glossary(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Directories
- ACR: Geographic Membership Directory(American College of Rheumatology)
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Organizations
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Children
- Juvenile Spondyloarthritis (JSpA)(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Teenagers
- Spondylitis Web Info for Teens(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Men
- Spondylitis: Men's Health(Spondylitis Association of America)
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Patient Handouts
- Ankylosing spondylitis
- Also available in Spanish
- Lumbar MRI scan
- Also available in Spanish
- Pelvis x-ray
- Also available in Spanish
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