Axial spondyloarthritis
Diagnosis
Damage to the bone structure doesn't often develop until years after the onset of back pain. This is why the diagnosis is often made late. In order to determine whether axial spondyloarthritis 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 take blood samples, in which the signs of inflammation and the genetic risk indicator can be detected. In order to be able to assess physical symptoms, the doctor will examine the mobility of the spine and the ribs, among other things. Structural damage will be detected via imaging procedures, such as MRI.
