Full Description
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.
Contents
1: What is ankylosing spondylitis?
2: What is axial spondyloarthritis?
3: What is the underlying cause? HLA-B27 and other disease predisposing genes
4: Disease prevalence
5: Early symptoms
6: Eye inflammation (acute anterior uveitis)
7: Other manifestations
8: Findings on clinical examination and laboratory tests
9: Radiology, MRI, and CT
10: Diagnosis of other forms of SpA and 'look-alikes'
11: Other causes of chronic back pain
12: Assessment of disease activity and functional impairment
13: Patient education
14: Exercise and physical therapy
15: Management: An Overview
16: Management: Patient's role
17: Management: Rheumatologist's role
18: NSAIDs and conventional DMARDs
19: Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors
20: IL-17 and IL-23 inhibitors; and targeted synthetic DMARDs
21: Living with the disease and its socioeconomic impact
22: Fused (ankylosed) spine and risk of fractures
23: Surgical treatment
24: Nontraditional (complementary or alternative) therapy
25: Disease course and effect on lifespan
26: Illustrative case histories
Appendix 1: Patient support groups and organizations
Appendix 2: Glossary
Appendix 3: List of abbreviations
Appendix 4: References and further reading
