Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is the second most common type of inflammatory arthritis, often affecting teenagers and young adults. Symptoms of AS can include back pain, stiffness, joint inflammation (arthritis), inflammation where tendons attach to bones (enthesitis), and fatigue. Over time, these symptoms can lead to spinal fusion, which significantly affects quality of life, particularly in young people.
Unfortunately, diagnosing AS can be a lengthy process, taking up to ten years from the onset of symptoms and usually requiring X-rays. The slow progression of the condition, coupled with the lack of a definitive test, contributes to these delays.
