Ankylosing Spondylitis
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One of the seronegative spondyloarthropathies, others being Reiter's disease, Behçet's disease, psoriatic arthropathy, and arthropathy associated with inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's and ulcerative colitis)
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Prevalence of 2:1000 in Western Europe but much lower in Japan and Negroid races
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M:F between 2:1 and 10:1
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Strong familial tendency
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Cause unknown but HLA-B27 found in 90% of patients and 50% of their relatives
Pathology
Pathological changes occur in three stages
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Inflammatory reaction with round cell infiltration, granulation tissue and destruction of bone
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Replacement of the granulation tissue with fibrous tissue
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Ossification of the fibrous tissue leading to ankylosis of joints
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