Diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis

A doctor diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis will usually begin by taking the patient's medical history. This is typically followed by a physical exam. Although there is no single test that can be used to diagnose ankylosing spondylitis, x-rays and certain blood tests may help rule out other conditions that could be causing the person's symptoms. Some of the conditions doctors may have to rule out when diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis include rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and osteoporosis.

 

An Overview of Diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis

There is no one specific test that can be used for diagnosing ankylosing spondylitis (also known simply as spondylitis). Therefore, in order to make an ankylosing spondylitis diagnosis, the healthcare provider will typically begin by asking a number of questions. This is known as taking a person's medical history. Some of these questions may be related to:
 
  • Current symptoms
  • Other medical conditions
  • Current medications
  • A recent history of injuries
  • A family history of any medical conditions, including arthritis.
     
After asking a number of questions, the healthcare provider will likely perform a physical exam looking for signs of ankylosing spondylitis or other medical conditions that can cause similar symptoms. As part of this physical exam, the healthcare provider will usually examine the patient's joints, skin, eyes, reflexes, and muscle strength.
 
After the medical history and physical exam, the healthcare provider may recommend certain tests to help diagnose ankylosing spondylitis.
 

Tests Used for Diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis

Some of the tests that your healthcare provider may recommend to help diagnose ankylosing spondylitis include:
 
  • X-rays
  • Blood tests.
     
X-rays
Doctors sometimes use x-rays to help diagnose ankylosing spondylitis and to rule out other causes of arthritis. X-rays may show swelling of soft tissues and damage to cartilage or bone margins of the spine joints.
(Diagnosing Ankylosing Spondylitis Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD