title: Spinal ankylosing spondylitis: a variant form of ankylosing spondylitis or a distinct disease entity?
abstract: In a population survey of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) seven subjects, six males and one female, had x-ray changes in the lumbar spine typical of AS but without concomitant roentgenological sacroiliitis. The overall prevalence of such cases in the population studied was 0.37%. Four out of these seven subjects carried the tissue antigen HLA-B27 (57%). The clinical and roentgenological features of these subjects are described and it is suggested that the x-ray findings represent a mild and variant form of primary or definite AS.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D011859:Radiography; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen