Ankylosing spondylitis Diagnosis
Tests may include:
- HLA-B27 antigen test is positive.
- A spine X-ray or pelvis X-ray shows characteristic findings.
- ESR may or may not be elevated.
- Complete Blood Count may show mild anemia.
More detailed explanation of Ankylosing spondylitis Diagnosis
Doctors usually diagnose the disease simply by the patient's report of pain and
stiffness. Doctors also review spinal and pelvic x rays since involvement of the hip and
pelvic joints is common and may be the first abnormality seen on the x ray. The doctor may
also order a blood test to determine the presence of HLA-B27 antigen. When a diagnosis is
made, patients may be referred to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating
arthritis. Patients may also be referred to an orthopedic surgeon, a doctor who can
surgically correct joint or bone disorders.
The first step in the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis is to take a thorough history
of symptoms and make a physical examination. The doctor may check for tenderness over the sacroiliac
joint. The doctor may check range of motion in the lower back and in the entire spine,
and may also measure the ability to expand the chest.
An x-ray of the pelvis can show inflammation or fusion of the sacroiliac joint and bony
overgrowth or fusion of the spine.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scan of the back may show
early effects of the disease on the sacroiliac joint and vertebrae.
Blood tests may be done to look for evidence of inflammation. Low-grade anemia (a lack
of enough red blood cells or hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen in the
blood) is also an indicator of chronic disease.
Tests are sometimes done to check for HLA-B27 when the diagnosis is in doubt.
Generally, however, presence of HLA-B27 is useless as a diagnostic indicator, as many
people with back pain of other causes may also have this gene.
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