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ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS DESCRIPTION |
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A form of arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis is characterized
by chronic inflammation, causing pain and stiffness of the back,
progressing to the chest and neck. Eventually, the whole back may
become curved and inflexible if the bones fuse (this is known as
"bamboo spine"). Ankylosing Spondylitis is a systemic disorder that may involve multiple
organs, such as the: Eye (causing an inflammation of the iris, or iritis) Heart (causing aortic valve disease) Lungs Skin (causing a scaly skin condition, or psoriasis) Gastrointestinal tract (causing inflammation within the small intestine, called ileitis, or inflammation of the large intestine, called colitis). Less than 1% of the population has Ankylosing Spondylitis; however, 20% of Ankylosing Spondylitis sufferers have a relative with the disorder. |
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| ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS RELATED ITEMS | ||
