Who gets AS?

Who gets ankylosing spondylitis?

Ankylosing Spondylitis tends to affect more men than women and the symptons of the disease can show around the age of 20-30, unlike other forms of arthritis and rheumatic diseases, AS rarely starts in old age.

According to the NHS website, ‘estimates of different European populations suggest that Ankylosing Spondylitis may affect between 2-5 adults in every 1,000. In the UK, around 200,000 people have been diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.’ (2010)

It’s thought genes are responsible for AS. In particular  HLA B27, which is found to be present in about 95% of people with AS, although according to nass.co.uk, only 1 in 15 with this gene go on to develop AS, so this gene alone is not the only cause. In fact nass.co.uk go on to say that as of 2011, scientists have identified around 20 genes that must be involved.

It is possible that the genetic make-up you have inherited from your parents could result in you being more likely to develop AS, however the condition is not necessarily passed on through your genes, so you may find that none of your siblings have AS. It’s thought there is a 50/50 chance of passing the HLA B27 on to your children, however the chance of that child developing AS is somewhere between 8-15%.

It is not contagious so you can’t pass it on through physical contact or being close to a person with AS.