Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Abstract
CONSIDERABLE progress in early diagnosis and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis (Marie—Strümpell disease) comes from the recent acceptance and classification1 of this systemic disease as an entity apart from rheumatoid arthritis. Major clinical differences2 3 4 5 are listed in Table 1.As yet, etiologic studies have contributed little to the understanding of ankylosing spondylitis.6 Heredity, trauma, psychologic stress and nonspecific urogenital infections have all been suggested as possible causes. The frequent association between ankylosing spondylitis and ulcerative colitis,7 , 8 regional enteritis9 and psoriasis10 remains unexplained, as does the occasional link to Reiter's syndrome11 and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.12 , 13 Natural HistoryEarly Disease and Modes of Onset . . .