spondylitis

spondylitis /spon·dy·li·tis/ (spon″dĭ-li´tis) inflammation of vertebrae.

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spondylitis ankylopoie´tica , ankylosing spondylitis rheumatoid arthritis of the spine, affecting young persons predominantly, with pain and stiffness as a result of inflammation of the sacroiliac, intervertebral, and costovertebral joints; it may progress to cause complete spinal and thoracic rigidity.

Kümmell's spondylitis  see under disease.

Marie-Strümpell spondylitis  ankylosing s.

spondylitis tuberculo´sa  tuberculosis of the spine.

spondylitis typho´sa  that following typhoid fever.

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spon·dy·li·tis (spndl-ts)

n.

Inflammation of one or more vertebrae.

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spondy·lytic (-tk) adj.

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Spondylitis

An inflammation of the spine.

Mentioned in: Ankylosing Spondylitis

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spondylitis

[spon′dəlī′tis]

Etymology: Gk, sphondylos, vertebra, itis

an inflammation of any of the vertebrae, usually characterized by stiffness and pain. The condition may be the result of traumatic injury to the spine, infection, or rheumatoid disease. See also ankylosing spondylitis. spondylitic, adj.

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spondylitis [spon″dĭ-li´tis]

inflammation of the vertebrae, usually a serious and chronic disorder. It may be associated with tuberculosis of the bones, in which case it is called pott's disease. The vertebrae become eroded and collapse, causing kyphosis. Spondylitis may also be associated with other infectious diseases, such as brucellosis, in which the intervertebral disks and the vertebrae are affected and sometimes destroyed; this is one cause of ankylosing spondylitis, a particularly serious variety.

ankylosing spondylitis (Bekhterev's spondylitis) a form of rheumatoid arthritis that affects the spine, characterized by inflammation of the facet joints and inflammatory changes of the stabilizing ligaments of the spine (enthesopathy). It affects males almost exclusively. There is stiffening of spinal joints and ligaments, so that movement becomes increasingly painful and difficult. When it runs its full course, it results in bony ankylosis of the vertebral joints, which may extend to the ribs and limit the flexibility of the rib cage, so that breathing is impaired. Called also Marie-Strümpell disease or spondylitis and rheumatoid spondylitis.

Typical posture of patient with ankylosing spondylitis. From Copstead and Banasik, 2000.

Kümmell's spondylitis Kümmell's disease.

Marie-Strümpell spondylitis ankylosing spondylitis.

post-traumatic spondylitis Kümmell's disease.

rheumatoid spondylitis ankylosing spondylitis.

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spondylitis (spôn·d·līˑ·ts),

n condition marked by inflammation of the vertebrae.

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spondylitis (spon´dlī´tis),

n an inflammation of spinal vertebrae, usually characterized by stiffness and pain.

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spondylitis

osteomyelitis of the vertebrae. See also spondylosis, diskospondylitis.

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spondylitis

Orthopedics Inflammation of one or more vertebrae. See Ankylosing spondylitis.

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Patient discussion about spondylitis.

Q. Is ankylosing spondylitis genetically inherited?

A. It is known today that ankylosing spondylitis (spondyloarthritis) has a very strong genetic connection. It is not a disease inhertited by a single gene that is dominant, but certainly there is genetic predisposition in families (and a more detailed information- about 90% of the patients express the HLA-B27 genotype).

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