Spondyloarthritis is a group of diseases that is characterized by inflammation in the spine and joints. Ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis are two types of arthritis.
The key difference between ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis is the organs they affect. Ankylosing spondylitis specifically affects the joints in the spine, while axial spondyloarthritis specifically affects the joints in the chest, spine, and pelvis.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ankylosing Spondylitis
3. What is Axial Spondyloarthritis
4. Similarities – Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis
5. Ankylosing Spondylitis vs Axial Spondyloarthritis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Ankylosing Spondylitis vs Axial Spondyloarthritis
7. FAQ – Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis affects the joints in the spine. It also affects the joints where the base of the spine meets the pelvis, such as sacroiliac joints. The main symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis include hip pain, pain in the buttock, neck pain, abdominal pain, and stiffness. Studies have found that specific gene mutations are closely linked to ankylosing spondylitis. One example is the human leukocyte antigen B gene.
Figure 01: Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing spondylitis can be diagnosed through by physical examination, chest X-ray, MRI, and blood tests. Furthermore, treatment options for ankylosing spondylitis may include exercise, drugs such as NSAIDs, DMARDs, corticosteroids, and surgery.
What is Axial Spondyloarthritis?
Axial spondyloarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joints in the axial skeleton, such as chest, spine and pelvis. The symptoms of this condition may include back pain, and digestive problems such as diarrhea, fatigue, enthesitis, dactylitis, psoriasis, and uveitis. Axial spondyloarthritis often runs in families. Most people with this condition have a mutation in a gene called human leukocyte antigen B gene.
Figure 02: Axial Spondyloarthritis
Axial spondyloarthritis can be diagnosed through family history, physical examination, spine X-ray, and MRI. Furthermore, treatment options for axial spondyloarthritis are taking drugs such as NSAIDs, DMARDs, biologics physical therapy, and steroid injections.
Similarities Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis
- Ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis are two different
- Both can cause pain and stiffness.
- Both are mainly caused by mutations in human leukocyte antigen B gene
- Both can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
- They can be treated through physical therapy and drugs.
Difference Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis
Definition
- Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the joints in the spine and sacroiliac joints.
- Axial spondyloarthritis is a type of arthritis that affects the joints in the axial skeleton, such as the chest, spine, and pelvis.
Symptoms
- Hip pain, pain in the buttock, neck pain, abdominal pain, stiffness, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
- Back pain, hip pain, buttock pain, digestive problems such as diarrhea, fatigue, enthesitis, dactylitis, psoriasis, and uveitis.
Diagnosis
- Physical examination, chest X-ray, MRI, blood tests, and genetic testing.
- Family history, physical examination, spine X-ray, MRI, and genetic testing.
Treatment
- Exercise, drugs such as NSAIDs, DMARDs, corticosteroids, and surgery.
- Drugs such as NSAIDs, DMARDs, biologics physical therapy, and steroid injections.
The following table summarizes the difference between ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis.
Summary – Ankylosing Spondylitis vs Axial Spondyloarthritis
Spondyloarthritis is an inflammatory arthritis that affects the spine. In most patients, the main symptom is lower back pain. Ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis are two different spondyloarthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis is a spondyloarthritis that affects the joints in the spine and sacroiliac joints, while axial spondyloarthritis is a spondyloarthritis that affects the joints in the chest, spine, and pelvis. This is the basic difference between ankylosing spondylitis and axial spondyloarthritis.
FAQ: Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis
1. What triggers ankylosing spondylitis?
- Gene mutations may be part of the cause of ankylosing spondylitis. But an exact cause is unknown. Symptoms of AS may include back pain, early morning stiffness, and a stooped posture.
2. How long can a person live with ankylosing spondylitis?
- Ankylosing spondylitis is an autoimmune disease. Life expectancy for people with ankylosing spondylitis is the same as that of the general population, except for patients’ complications.
3. How painful is ankylosing spondylitis?
- Many people with ankylosing spondylitis have mild episodes of back pain and stiffness that usually come and go. However, others have severe, ongoing pain with loss of flexibility in the spine and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
4. How do you diagnose axial spondyloarthritis?
- The diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis should be made by an experienced clinician and based on a combination of physical examinations, blood tests, and imaging tests such as radiographs (X-rays) and MRI.
5. What is the first-line treatment for axial spondyloarthritis?
- Treatment of axial spondyloarthritis includes taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), physical therapy, and exercise. NSAIDs and regular movement are usually enough to keep things under control.
Reference:
1. “Ankylosing Spondylitis.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Axial Spondyloarthritis: Symptoms & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Ankylosing spondylitis of lumbosacral spine” By Cerevisae – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Sacroiliac joint” By Mikael Häggström – File:Gray242.png (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia
Leave a Reply