Ankylosing spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS; also known as Bechterew's disease; Bechterew syndrome; Marie Strümpell disease / Marie Struempell disease / Spondyloarthritis) is a chronic, painful, degenerative inflammatory arthritis primarily affecting spine and sacroiliac joints, causing eventual fusion of the spine; it is a member of the group of the autoimmune spondyloarthropathies with a probable genetic predisposition. Complete fusion results in a complete rigidity of the spine, a condition known as bamboo spine.
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Ankylosing spondylitis refers to inflammation of the joints in the spine. [more]Ankylosing spondylitis - Community and Resources

Noun
1. a chronic form of spondylitis primarily in males and marked by impaired mobility of the spine; sometimes leads to ankylosis
(synonym) Marie-Strumpell disease, rheumatoid spondylitis
(hypernym) spondylitis

A type of arthritis that causes chronic inflammation of the spine.

SPONDILITE ANCHILOSANTE