title: [Modern treatment of ankylosing spondylitis].
abstract: Bechterew's disease belongs to subgroup of spondyloarthritis. Even today there is still a delay of 5-10 years between the first occurrence of symptoms and the final diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis. Without treatment the spine increasingly stiffens and the peripheral (mostly large) joints are often destroyed by inflammatory processes. Ankyloses of the joints between vertebrae and ribs may cause stiffness of the thorax. As the complaints most often start within the third decade of life and show a chronic progressive course, even young adults often have to deal with a considerable impairment due to pain and stiffness. Thus, early diagnosis is of utmost importance as today treatment with novel drugs is feasible and the TNFalpha inhibitors are particularly effective during the early stages of the disease. All conservative orthopedic measure used concomitantly. Surgery encompasses the early resection of inflamed mucosa in joints. In later stages of the disease reconstructive methods, i.e. prosthetics are often applied. Spondylodesis to erect the body, necessary in the end stage of the disease, is beneficial, but elaborate.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchiurgie, Markus-KH, Akademisches Lehrkrankenhaus, Frankfurt aM, Germany. rehart@fck.info
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rehart
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kerschbaumer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sieper
mesh_terms: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007738:Kyphosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013123:Spinal Fusion; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D000074402:Synovectomy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha