All About Ankylosing spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis affects mainly the joints and ligamentous apparatus of the spine and joints of the hands and feet.
Pathological changes primarily occur in the place the sacral pelvic bones (indicated by red arrows). Surfaces joint gradually filled with granulation tissue, ossify, that leads to a complete fusion of the joint.
The figure on the left below: posture of a healthy person, "Pose asylum "and" haughty posture ", typical for those suffering from ankylosing spondylarthritis.
Ankylosing spondylitis is named after the famous neurologist and psychiatrist Bekhterev, who first gave it clinical description and called the "stiffness of spine curvature. This is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects mostly joints and ligamentous apparatus of the spine, which gradually leads to restriction of movements in the spine and a change in posture of the patient.
According to epidemiological studies of ankylosing spondylitis is found in 0,1-0,4% of the population, mostly in men 40-49 years old. But since the early stages of the disease are usually not detected because asymptomatic, it can be assumed that the actual disease begins at a younger age: in 15-30 years. In recent years, often Ankylosing spondylitis's disease is diagnosed and women.
The causes of the disease have not been fully clarified. It is believed that are set to two main factors: genetic predisposition and infection, and say exactly what the pathogen is disease is not yet possible. Scientists theorize that The disease is caused mainly by the representatives of the intestinal microflora, including Klebsiella, Salmonella, Yersinia. Immune system patients due to genetic (hereditary) features not provide necessary protective reaction in response to falling in the organism infection, and it affects joint-ligamentous apparatus. And the manifestations of gastro intestine, caused by microorganisms, the suffering from Ankylosing spondylitis's disease usually does not happen.
Development of ankylosing spondylitis contributes hypothermia, increases susceptibility to any local infection, available in the body. Often the disease is preceded by chronic infection genito-urinary organs, for example, chronic urethritis, and prostatitis. Sometimes disease begins recovering from debilitating body acute infections, influenza, and sore throat.
Inflammatory changes occur primarily in place the sacral bones of the pelvis, develops sacroiliac disease. This is the first stage of Ankylosing spondylitis's disease. Joint surfaces become uneven due to pockets of destruction (destruction), gradually filling the granulation tissue. This tissue is basis for the development of ossification or bone ankylosis that over time leads to a complete fusion of the joint.
Early manifestations of spinal lesions, pain and feeling stiffness (stiffness) in the lumbosacral region, especially the strong in the second half of the night and mornings.
Pain concern over several months, and often mistaken for a manifestation of sciatica .Although it differs in a gradual, rather than sudden, as if radiculitis, the beginning and longer. The pain is accompanied by restriction of movements in the lumbar spine. A person can not be bent; can not get your fingers the floor without bending at this leg in the knee joints. Sometimes the complaints of patients are so small that ankylosing spondylitis is diagnosed only after several years beginning. Posture of the patient in this period does not change, and only if of pain gait is a bit constrained, as would be gentle.
At a later stage of the disease develops ankylosis sacroiliac joints. In many cases this process and limited. But some are affected and the overlying spine. Inflammation encompasses small vertebral joints, which vertebrae connected to each other.
When the pathological process involves the thoracic spine, appears girdle pain in the chest, increasing with a deep breath, cough, while shaking in transport. Sometimes the pain irradiates in the region of the heart, kidneys.
Gradually developing ossification of intervertebral joints of entire spine. They significantly narrowed and sprout coarse fibrous, then the bone tissue.
Simultaneously, there is ossification (ossification) and ligaments that reinforce the spine, which affects, and over time can completely restrict its mobility. On the radiograph a spine looks like bamboo, sticks.
Changed posture of patients. In some torso and head sharply bend forward; there is a so-called posture petitioner. In others, Conversely, the back becomes flat as a board, his neck straightened and immobile ( "Haughty posture"). Because of the atrophy of the muscles of the back straight man moves, legs wide apart, shaking his head.
In some patients, inflammatory changes occur also in the joints of hands and feet: shoulder, hip, ankle, knee, which further increases the suffering and violation of performance.
When Ankylosing spondylitis's disease in the pathological process, along with spine and joints may be involved other organs. Explained is, apparently, that arise in the immune system result in violations, in turn, to pathological changes in other systems of the body.
Most often have seen eye damage. Found even that common methods of treating intractable iritis, iridotsiklita (inflammation of the iris) are. Harbingers of disease Ankylosing spondylitis: diseases of the eye appear a few years before the development pathological process in the spine and joints.
Ankylosante spondylitis is often accompanied kidney disease (nephritis, amyloidosis), lungs (pneumonia, fibrosis), heart (aorta, aortic insufficiency).
Ankylosing spondylitis gives patients a lot of suffering and physical, and moral: for because of the difficulty of motion of joints have to disrupt your normal lifestyle, more homes, less move.
The inflammatory process in joints can be slowed, if time to start treatment, actively engage in exercise therapy
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