Ankylosing spondylitis early diagnosis, early treatment

Ankylosing spondylitis is a common chronic inflammatory rheumatic disease, characterized by axial joint inflammation, peripheral arthritis, and enthesopathy. It primarily affect young male, and has strong linkage with HLA-B27. Persistent inflammation could lead to the bony growth or syndesmophyte, ankylosing of the adjacent vertebral body, and loss of functional ability. Exercise and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are the standard therapy for the patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Sulfasalazine is helpful in the patients with peripheral arthritis. Local steroids injections are also widely used in refractory enthesopathy and peripheral arthritis. The most important progress in the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis is the newly development of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) drugs. Patient's can achieve rapid, significant and sustained improvement with these biologic agent.