title: Clinical history as a screening test for ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: A controlled study of 138 subjects demonstrated that the clinical history may be sensitive (95%) and specific (85%) in the differential diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis when reliance of five specific historic features is made. Back pain that is insidious in onset, in a patient younger than 40 years, persisting for at least three months, associated with morning stiffness and improving with exercise is characteristic of inflammatory spinal disease.
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006680:HLA Antigens; D006650:Histocompatibility Testing; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008722:Methods; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens