Understanding Ankylosing Spondylitis

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In ankylosing spondylitis (AS), TNF can cause your immune system to attack healthy tissues in your body and cause inflammation and damage. If AS is left untreated, it can cause permanent damage to the body's bones, joints, or tissues.

• Ankylosing spondylitis can strike people as soon as their late teens.
• AS affects three times as many men as women.
• A survey sponsored by the Spondylitis Association of America revealed that a majority of AS patients have their first AS symptoms by age 29 but may not be diagnosed with AS until five or more years after these symptoms appear.
• Ankylosing spondylitis often goes undiagnosed because it is often mistaken for ordinary back pain.
• AS is not just a disease of the spine. AS is an inflammatory disease that primarily affects the joints of the spine, but can also produce pain and discomfort in other parts of the body.
• Many AS patients also experience inflammation in the shoulders, hips, ankles, and jaw. These symptoms can keep you from working and from participating in everyday activities.

For more detailed information about ankylosing spondylitis, please visit the following resources:

• Ankylosing Spondylitis Symptoms
• Accurately Diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Complications Associated with Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Ankylosing Spondylitis Treatment