![]() There is no cure for axSpA, but treatment aims to: The doctor may order X-rays, ultrasound, MRI or CT scans of the pelvis and spine to look for damage. Other tests will check for body-wide inflammation. Having this gene doesn’t mean you have axSpA, but it can help with diagnosis. The doctor may order a test for the HLA-B27 gene. They will watch how your joints move and may check your eyes. The doctor will look for signs of tenderness, swelling and pain in your spine, pelvis and hips. The doctor will ask about symptoms, when they started, if they come and go, current medical conditions, medication use and whether family members have arthritis. The doctor will talk with you, perform a physical exam and order a few tests to rule out other causes of back and hip pain. There is no single test to diagnose axSpA. A doctor that specializes in arthritis (a rheumatologist) should be seen if axSpA is suspected. A primary care doctor may be the first person to assess your joint pain. It’s important to see a doctor early to get an accurate diagnosis. Inflammation may cause shortness of breath and impaired lung function Diagnosis Complications affecting the lungs are rare. People with axSpA also have an increased risk for heart attack and stroke. Though uncommon, inflammation may affect the largest artery that leads to the heart (aorta). Inflammation may cause abdominal pain and diarrhea. The white part of the eye may also get inflamed and red (called scleritis). Chronic eye inflammation (uveitis) causes dryness, pain, redness, sensitivity to light and vision problems. The rib cage may also fuse, making chest expansion difficult. This causes the back to become stiff and hard to move. This usually happens at the base of the spine first. Over time, the joints and bones of the spine may grow together (fuse). Back pain during the night or early morning.Stiffness when first waking up or after long periods of rest.Pain, swelling, redness and warmth in the toes, heels, ankles, knees, rib cage, upper spine, shoulders and neck.Pain in the low back, buttocks and hips that develops slowly over weeks or months.Children, however, may have pain in the hips, knees or heels before the back. ![]() Low back, buttocks and hip pain are usually the first symptoms. But most people that have the gene never develop axSpA. Many people with axSpA have a gene called HLA-B27. Researchers believe that people with certain genes develop axSpA when they are exposed to a virus, bacteria or another trigger. It is less common among African Americans than people of other racial backgrounds. However, nr-axSpA may be just as common in women as in men. The disease can occur at any age, but typically begins between ages 20 and 40. Nonradiographic axSpA (nr-axSpA) causes damage that may not be visible in X-rays but it may show up on magnetic resonance images (MRIs).Ankylosing spondylitis, or AS, also known as radiographic axSpA, because the damage it can cause to the sacroiliac joints and spine can be seen on X-rays.It is a systemic disease, which means it may affect other body parts and organs. Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a form of arthritis that mostly causes pain and swelling in the spine and the joints that connect the bottom of the spine to the pelvis (sacroiliac joint). ![]()
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