Ankylosing Spondylitis Research

Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Affects An Estimated 1 Million+ Americans

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is arthritis that primarily affects the spine, and may lead to severe, chronic pain and potentially cause sections of the spine to fuse.

Technological advances and genetic studies have improved understanding of AS and will help pinpoint treatments in the future. Research has evolved in a number of areas including studying pain and the interplay between the immune system and the pain-processing pathways in the brain.

Genes that may hold the key to how AS develops have been identified and may lead to use of different drug therapies than previously thought effective.

Using the latest technology and genetic sequencing, scientists have made considerable progress to identify genetic associations and immune pathways involved in ankylosing spondylitis. Although progress has been made in understanding the pathogenesis of AS, there remains much more to learn to understand the complexity of the disease and therapeutic potential of new discoveries.