Ankylosing Spondylitis Health Center

Table of Contents

  1. Symptoms
  2. Diagnosis
  3. Treatments
  4. Causes
  5. Living With

There is no definitive test to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis, but MRI and X-ray imaging of the spine can show the changes that occur as the disease progresses. A genetic test for the HLA-B27 genotype helps in diagnosis, but is not definitive (90% of AS patients will have this gene, but not everyone with the gene has AS). During periods of acute inflammation, blood tests for inflammatory markers may be present (C-reactive protein (CRP), and a high erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).

Reviewed by: 
Review Date: 
April 13, 2012
Last Updated:
October 3, 2013
Source:
dailyrx.com