Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Your Personalized Treatment Plan

Do not limit your treatment options only to the nearest hospital.
We offer the most effective, quick and affordable treatment for ankylosing spondylitis,
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Ankylosing spondylitis, also known as axial spondyloarthritis, is an inflammatory disease that, over time, can cause some of the bones in the spine, called vertebrae, to fuse. This fusing makes the spine less flexible and can result in a hunched posture. If ribs are affected, it can be difficult to breathe deeply.

As ankylosing spondylitis worsens, new bone forms as part of the body’s attempt to heal. The new bone gradually bridges the gaps between vertebrae and eventually fuses sections of vertebrae together. Fused vertebrae can flatten the natural curves of the spine, which causes an inflexible, hunched posture.

Axial spondyloarthritis has two types. When the condition is found on X-ray, it is called ankylosing spondylitis, also known as axial spondyloarthritis. When the condition can’t be seen on X-ray but is found based on symptoms, blood tests and other imaging tests, it is called nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Symptoms typically begin in early adulthood. Inflammation also can occur in other parts of the body — most commonly, the eyes.

There is currently no definitive cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but treatments can lessen symptoms and possibly slow progression of the disease.

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Private treatment in our hospital network allows you skip waiting lists while at the same time reducing the costs treatment considerably, up to 50% cheaper, in countries that are just a short flight from home. The countries listed below make excellent choices with modern hospitals and well-trained English speaking surgeons.

Our medical consultants will advise you on the best choice for your ankylosing spondylitis in one of our leading hospitals. We will evaluate your current condition, expectations and other related factors, and offer you the most suitable option, respecting your health and the individual needs of your body and lifestyle. Your health is unique and so should be your solution.

Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis​

Anti-TNF medicine

If your symptoms cannot be controlled using NSAIDs and exercising and stretching, anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) medicine may be recommended. TNF is a chemical produced by cells when tissue is inflamed. Anti-TNF medicines are given by injection and work by preventing the effects of TNF, as well as reducing the inflammation in your joints caused by ankylosing spondylitis.

If your rheumatologist recommends using anti-TNF medicine, the decision about whether they’re right for you must be discussed carefully, and your progress will be closely monitored. In rare cases anti-TNF medicine can interfere with the immune system, increasing your risk of developing potentially serious infections.

Monoclonal antibody treatment

Monoclonal antibodies, such as secukinumab and ixekizumab, may be offered to people with AS who do not respond to NSAIDs or anti-TNF medicine, or as an alternative to anti-TNF medicine. This type of treatment works by blocking the effects of a protein involved in triggering inflammation.

JAK inhibitors

JAK inhibitors are a type of medicine that may be offered to people with AS who do not respond to anti-TNF medicine or cannot take it. They work by blocking enzymes (proteins) that the immune system uses to trigger inflammation. They’re taken as tablets.

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids have a powerful anti-inflammatory effect and can be taken as injections by people with AS. If a particular joint is inflamed, corticosteroids can be injected directly into the joint. You’ll need to rest the joint for up to 48 hours after the injection. It’s usually recommended to limit corticosteroid injections to no more than 3 times in one year, with at least 3 months between injections in the same joint.

This is because corticosteroid injections can cause a number of side effects, such as:

  • infection in response to the injection
  • the skin around the injection may change colour (depigmentation)
  • the surrounding tissue may waste away
  • a tendon near the joint may burst (rupture)

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are an alternative type of medicine often used to treat other types of arthritis. DMARDs may be prescribed for AS, although they’re only beneficial in treating pain and inflammation in joints in areas of the body other than the spine. Sulfasalazine and methotrexate are the main DMARDs sometimes used to treat inflammation of joints other than the spine.

Surgery

Most people with AS will not need surgery. However, joint replacement surgery may be recommended to improve pain and movement in the affected joint if the joint has become severely damaged. For example, if the hip joints are affected, a hip replacement may be carried out. In rare cases corrective surgery may be needed if the spine becomes badly bent.

Complications of Ankylosing Spondylitis​