title: Historical perspectives in the aetiology of ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: A brief historical review of the aetiology of ankylosing spondylitis is presented. A recurrent theme has been diathesis and infection. Diathesis has now been pinpointed to the 6th chromosome in the form of HLA-B27, but, as yet, we know little of any infective aetiology for ankylosing spondylitis itself.
mesh_terms: D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006680:HLA Antigens; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049671:History, 18th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000209:etiology / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D006680:HLA Antigens; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen