Ankylosing spondylitis classification

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Manpreet Kaur, MD [2]

Overview[edit | edit source]

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may be classified according to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) into ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA). Formerly ankylosing spondylitis (AS) termed as spondyloarthritides or spondyloarthropathies. AS has been regarded as the prototype of spondyloarthritis. Previously ankylosing spondylitis (AS), spondyloarthritis (SpA), reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, arthritis and spondylitis associated with Crohn disease and ulcerative colitis which belong to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Classification[edit | edit source]

• Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may be classified according to Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) into following^{[1][2][3][4][5]}
  • Axial SpA: Which includes ankylosing spondylitis (AS)
    • Predominantly axial disease, is a potentially disabling inflammatory arthritis of the spine.
    • Patients with ankylosing spondylitis present with abnormal radiographic findings consistent with sacroiliitis.
    • Patients with ankylosing spondylitis mostly carry the gene for human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27.
    • Patients who are suffering with inflammatory bowel disease(IBD) often an elevated acute phase response.
  • Peripheral SpA: In peripheral SpA Symptoms and findings are predominantly peripheral rather than axial which include arthritis mostly seen in the lower limbs,enthesitis, and dactylitis.
  • Patients included in this category are with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), reactive arthritis.
  • Patients with AS and non-radiographic axial SpA are not included within the peripheral SpA category.
  • Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis 
    •  The clinical course and disease process still remains unclear.

References[edit | edit source]

Template:WH Template:WS