Ankylosing spondylitis laboratory findings
|
Ankylosing spondylitis Microchapters |
|
Diagnosis |
|---|
|
Treatment |
|
Case Studies |
|
Ankylosing spondylitis laboratory findings On the Web |
|
American Roentgen Ray Society Images of Ankylosing spondylitis laboratory findings |
|
Risk calculators and risk factors for Ankylosing spondylitis laboratory findings |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
There is no direct test to diagnose AS. A clinical examination and X-ray studies of the spine, which show characteristic spinal changes and sacroiliitis, are the major diagnostic tools. A drawback of X-ray diagnosis is that signs and symptoms of AS have usually been established as long as 8-10 years prior to X-ray evident changes occurring on a plain film X-ray, which means a delay of as long as 10 years before adequate therapies can be introduced. An option for more accurate (and much earlier) diagnosis are tomography and magnetic resonance imaging of the sacroiliac joints. The Schober's test is a useful clinical measure of flexion of the lumbar spine performed during examination.[1]
Laboratory Findings
Increase in
- C-reactive protein (CRP) and
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
References
- ↑ Thomas E, Silman AJ, Papageorgiou AC, Macfarlane GJ, Croft PR. (1998). "Association between measures of spinal mobility and low back pain. An analysis of new attenders in primary care". Spine. 23 (2): 343–7. PMID 9507623.