title: An overview of clinical spectrum and heterogeneity of spondyloarthropathies.
abstract: Ankylosing spondylitis and related spondyloarthropathies form a family of rheumatic diseases that are characterized by inflammatory peripheral and axial arthritis, with predilection for sacroiliitis, and a remarkably strong association with a genetic marker, HLA-B27. The association with B27 has provided a great impetus to the epidemiologic studies of spondyloarthropathies and also helped broaden the clinical spectrum of these diseases. There are at least six subtypes of B27, and the x-ray crystallographic structure of the common B27 subtype (B*2705) is now known. Endogenous peptides bound in the B27 antigen-binding cleft have been isolated and all seem to be nonamers (i.e., nine amino acids long).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Khan
mesh_terms: D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000145:classification; D006801:Humans; D044469:Racial Groups; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen