Ankylosing spondylitis must be treated until it progresses into disability

 

Ankylosing spondylitis is more frequently found in men than women and it is often encountered in people aging about 20-40 years. Some patients experience their symptoms for several years and buy their own medications without receiving proper treatment, which can lead to disability like back stiffness and hunching of the back or disease complications like conjunctivitis that occurs intermittently.

 

International studies found that about 1% of the world’s population suffer from this disease. This means that out of 100 young people, 1 is likely to have this disease. In addition, it was found that 90% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis carry the gene HLA-B27. That being said, although the gene is associated with ankylosing spondylitis, it does not mean that every person who carries the HLA-B27 gene is going to develop this disease, because other factors are also involved. However, it remains unclear today what causes this disease. As a result, even though testing for the HLA-B27 gene does not confirm diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis, it can help indicate in ankylosing spondylitis patients who bear the HLA-B27 gene that they might develop inflammation of the tissues covering the spine and that the spine can become locked to the point of disability and that children of patients who carry this gene have greater risk of developing this ankylosing spondylitis than other people who do not carry the HLA-B27 gene.

Because ankylosing spondylitis is caused by the body’s own immune system, there is chronic inflammation of the tissues covering the spine, the joints and various tendons, while the body tries to repair the damaged parts due to inflammation by developing fibrosis and binding calcium to tissues covering the spine and some joints, leading to a stiffer and more rigid back. These processes can take place over several years.

 

Treatment of ankylosing spondylitis, therefore, requires multiple approaches taking place simultaneously by starting with the administering of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs to reduce pain and inflammation. These drugs are used when pain symptoms are present or used continuously according to the severity of the disease and are combined with immunomodulator or immunosuppressant drugs to prevent recurring inflammation of the tissues of the spine, joints or tendons, in addition to preventing various complications like prevention of conjunctivitis through use of an immunomodulator or immunosuppressant drugs, which can be oral drugs like sulphasalazine, methrotrexate, etc., or biologic agents like anti-TNF, anti-IL17 and small molecule drugs like JAK inhibitors, etc.

 

If these drugs are chosen appropriately to the nature and severity of ankylosing spondylitis, treatment outcomes are good, and complications can be prevented. At the same time, medication treatment must take place alongside physical therapy to reduce inflammation-related pain and prevent disability such as by using hot compresses, performing back exercises and swimming to increase back flexibility and preventing locked joints. Proper and consistent exercise can delay disease progression and improve the body’s immune system.

 

Although ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease that occurs intermittently and not continuously, it can continue to progress and lead to disability. Therefore, taking medications, behaving appropriately, exercising and working out are things that patients should pursue strictly, in addition to visiting doctors for monitoring of the disease progression and to adjust treatment plans appropriately according to appointments in order to ensure effective treatment and prevent disability and promote good patient quality of life.

 

 

1.Strictly take medications as prescribed.

2.Maintain cleanliness and avoid infections and complications

3.Work out by performing exercises that focuses on regular physical movements.

4.Sleep sufficiently.

5.Avoid physical and psychological stress.

6.Visit for treatment follow-ups according to the doctor’s appointments.