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Hi all - I have recently picked up a patient who has been Dx'd as having a "type" of Ankylosing Spondylitis - ie: he has an inflammatory spondyloarthritis believed to be associated with the HBLA27 gene. This is a new one on me and the info I can find is limited but basically states that it is Mx'd the same as AS. Has anyone come across this before and found anything to be particularly useful? Thanks & regards..
Hi!
Firstly, I must beg your pardon for not understanding allt he terms you are using. I´m not familiar with the terms Mx´d and Dx´d, but I think I understand your question anyway and hopefully my answer will give you some leads.
If I´m not mistaken, ankylosing spondylitis and the association with the HLA-B27 gene is the same as Morbus Bechterew - a condition which is more common in men and usually debutes in the late twenties. It usuallt starts in the sacral area and spreads upwards throughout the spine. The first phase of the condition involves pain which gradually decreases, leaving in it´s trail an increasing stiffness involving the whole spine. Dagfinrud H, Kvien TK, Hagen KB. (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001;(4):CD002822) have made a review in which they conclude that:
"...a home exercise program is better than no intervention, supervised group physiotherapy is better than home exercises, and that combined inpatient spa-exercise therapy followed by supervised outpatient weekly group physiotherapy is better than weekly group physiotherapy alone. The tendency toward positive effects of physiotherapy in the management of AS calls for further research in this field. New trials should also address other physiotherapy interventions commonly used in clinical practice".
I hop that this answer will help you along the way. Good luck!
Best regards,
Per Dosenius
Physiotherapist, cred. ex. MDT (McKenzie)
Sweden
Thanks for your input Per. For reference Dx'd is short for diagnosed and Mx'd is used for "managed" or "management". In Australia we often use Rx'd also as a shorthand notation for treatment :)