Ankylosing spondylitis: a review and clinical update

A review of literature and a presentation of the clinical aspects of ankylosing spondylitis reveal the symptom complex demonstrated in the female may differ from the clinical picture of a male with ankylosing spondylitis. It is suggested in recent literature that the occurrence may be equally distributed among the sexes, however, the ratio of diagnosis male to female remains at approximately 10:1. In the interest of ruling out AS, range of motion testing of the lumbar and sacral articulations should be performed on all patients with either axial or peripheral joint pain. Any compromise of mobility should be noted. Testing for the antigen HLA B27 should not be considered an absolute diagnostic criteria. Final diagnosis may rest on clinical presentation and the presence of a radiographically demonstrable sacroilitis.