Despite both beingautoimmune diseases,multiple sclerosis(MS) andankylosing spondylitis(AS) are unrelated conditions.
They rarely coexist, and they differ significantly in symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
In MS, the immune system attacks nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord and their protectivemyelincovering.
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This may lead to neurological symptoms like numbness, weakness, and vision problems.
This article will provide a brief overview of MS and AS.
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Symptoms
The symptoms of both MS and AS usually start in early adulthood.
They range in severity from being a mild nuisance to being severe and debilitating.
Apart from these general similarities, AS and MS are unique conditions.
Multiple Sclerosis
MS symptoms are neurological in nature because the disease only affects the central nervous system.
Your centralnervous system(CNS) consists of your brain, spinal cord, and theoptic nervesof your eyes.
The specific symptoms a person with MS has depends on which nerve-signaling pathways are affected within the CNS.
CommonMS symptomsinclude:
Ankylosing Spondylitis
People with AS initially experience lower-back pain from inflamed sacroiliac joints.
Over time, the inflammation moves from the sacroiliac joints to the spinal joints.
Causes
The exact cause of both MS and AS remains unknown.
However, both diseases involve the immune system launching misguided attacks on healthy tissues in the body.
One gene variant known as HLA-B27 is positive in 90% of people diagnosed with AS.
Experts have found other genes linked to AS as well, including a gene called the ERAP-1 gene.
This gene codes for a protein involved in the normal functioning of the immune system.
Moreover, symptoms in both conditions can be subtle or nonspecific, which can delay the diagnosis for years.
Results from these tests ultimately guide healthcare providers into ruling the disease in or out.
Arheumatologista doctor who specializes in diseases of the joints and musclesusually makes thediagnosis of AS.
Your provider would start by asking you questions about your symptoms and performing a physical exam.
Your joints will also be examined for signs of inflammation like warmth, swelling, and tenderness.
Treatment
There is no cure for MS or AS.
What Is a Relapse?
The treatment of AS involves both physical therapy and medication to ease pain and improve everyday functioning.
These factors include genetic makeup and immune system response.
Nevertheless, there are some lifestyle changes that may be helpful in preventing or combating each disease.
Multiple sclerosis and ankylosing spondylitis are not related.
The only common ground they share is that both are autoimmune diseases.
Research suggests that patients with AS may be more susceptible to thinking and memory problems.
Ankylosing spondylitis and MS are autoimmune diseases.
They develop as a result of the body’s immune system targeting and attacking healthy tissues.
Certain unhealthy lifestyle habits can worsen your MS or AS.
For instance, smoking is linked to MS progression and a worsened disease state in AS.
Also, obesity is associated with a worse clinical outcome in both MS and AS.
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