Ankylosing spondylitis
Diagnosis
Damage to the bone structure doesn't often develop until years after the onset of symptoms. This is why the diagnosis is often made late. In order to determine whether ankylosing spondylitis is present, the treating doctor performs a significant number of examinations. They will ask about the family medical history, in order to be able to better assess the patient's risk, and do a blood test. This will detect signs of inflammation and the genetic risk indicator. In order to be able to assess physical symptoms, the doctor will examine the mobility of the spine and ribs, among other things. Structural damage will be detected via imaging procedures, such as MRI.
