Ankylosing Spondylitis: Early Recognition & Treatment

Ankylosing Spondylitis hit my patient at 24. Most hadn't heard of it.

This inflammatory arthritis affects the spine, causing deep gluteal pain, improving with exercise

but worsening with rest. Men are diagnosed more often. It involves chronic

inflammation and spinal fusion. Diagnosis needs clinical assessment, imaging,

and elevated markers for early sacroiliitis detection. Treatment has evolved. NSAIDs are first-line,

but TNF and IL-17 inhibitors revolutionized care. My patient's early biologic therapy resolved

pain, normalizing markers, fundamentally changing his prognosis.