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Ankylosing Spondylitis
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Johns Hopkins Health Alerts Arthritis Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a systemic rheumatic disease characterized by inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac joints. These joints are located in the lower back where the sacrum (the bone directly above the tailbone of your back) meets the iliac bones (bones on either side of the upper buttocks). Inflammation in these areas (spondylitis) causes pain and stiffness in and around the spine. Eventually, this can lead to a complete fusion of the vertebrae, a process referred to as ankylosis, which in turn leads to loss of spinal mobility. In addition to harming the spine, ankylosing spondylitis can inflame and injure joints in other parts of the body. Ankylosing spondylitis can also damage organs such as the heart and kidneys.
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