PREVALENCE OF ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS AMONG B27 POSITIVE NORMAL INDIVIDUALS - REASSESSMENT

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 6  (6) , 713-718
Abstract
Previous workers reported symptomatic, but undiagnosed, ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in some 20% of blood donors with HLA B27. As part of an ongoing population study, 139 HLA B27 positive individuals were compared with 128 controls and no differences were found in spinal mobility or back pain. There were no differences when all available radiographs were compared. No case of AS was identified. AS occurs in less than 20% of HLA B27 positive individuals and the prevalence of AS is of the order predicted by conventional epidemiological surveys. Although HLA typing can be helpful in excluding AS suspected on clinical grounds, it cannot be used to confirm the diagnosis.