Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), currently grouped under the term axial
spondyloarthritis (axSpA), is a chronic form of arthritis that causes
inflammatory back pain and can gradually result in impaired spinal
mobility. It can also cause eye inflammation (uveitis), arthritis of
limb joints, inflammation at sites of bony attachments of tendons and
ligaments (enthesitis), and associated psoriasis and inflammatory bowel
disease. No cure has yet been found; however, early diagnosis and proper
medical and lifestyle management are very important in reducing the risk
of deformity and disability.
Written by a leading expert on the subject who himself has been living
with AS since age 12, this book provides clear and practical information
on the clinical symptoms and signs, underlying causes, genetic
predisposition, diagnosis, treatments, and impact on daily life. The
combination of scientific knowledge and personal experience results in a
unique book which will prove invaluable for patients and their families
and friends, as well as allied health professionals and students wishing
to know more about the condition.
The second edition has been fully updated to cover the tremendous
advancements made in the clinical recognition and effective management
since the first edition in 2002. It also includes a glossary of medical
terms and links to sources of further information to give patients the
tools they need to understand and manage the condition effectively.
