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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    What causes ankylosing spondylitis?

    Related Topics
    Ankylosing Spondylitis Rheumatology
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    Thanks

    Dr Aaron Albrecht

    Chiropractor

    Dr. Aaron Albrecht works at Body Wise Chiropractic in Bibra Lake, Western Australia. The clinic is located within a gym, and Dr. Albrecht is the … View Profile

    As Dr. Stewart said, the gene HLA-B27 does seem to have a strong link, but not all individuals exhibiting this gene will contract the condition (for instance, 80% of children who inherit HLA-B27 from a parent with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) will not inherit the disorder).

    The cause seems to involve a component of genetics, but also multifactorial environmental considerations must be taken into account.

    From a physiological point of view, the disorder is inflammatory in nature, putting it in a category with other conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. This inflammation causes damage and thickening of the ligaments around joint capsules, and may progress into other tissues in some cases.

    I hope this helps.

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