Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic form of spondylitis, an inflammation of a spinal joint. It is a painful inflammatory disorder in the back in which the vertebrae are connected by fibrous tissue (becoming squared) that causes the spine rigidify. An autoimmune disease, ankylosing spondylitis is also known as Bekhterev's disease, Bekhterev syndrome, and Marie-Strümpell disease. The term comes from the Greek words "ankylos" which means stiff and "spondylos" which means vertebrae.
The disease primarily affects 20-40 year-old males (a 3 males: 1 female incidence ratio) with initial symptoms appearing, on average, at 25-28 years. The usual first symptom is chronic pain and stiffness in the lower part of the spine, especially morning stiffness. In 40% of documented cases, inflammation of the eye, vision loss, and photophobia occur during ankylosing spondylitis onset. Notable with this disease is the observation that severe pain can be felt while at rest which a sufferer may alleviate by physical activity.
There is no known cure for ankylosing spondylitis at present though a combination of posture correction, physiotherapy, exercise, and medication helps.