• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a kind of arthritis that mainly affects your spine.
• It often begins before the age of 40 years.
• Ankylosing spondylitis affects males more often than females.
• It’s not known what causes ankylosing spondylitis.
• There’s no cure for ankylosing spondylitis, but medicines can help manage your symptoms.

These key facts are from healthdirect.gov.au (accessed 24 Feb 2024). Visit the healthdirect website for more information about ankylosing spondylitis.

If your doctor suspects you have ankylosing spondylitis, they may request one or more tests.

If you are diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, some of these tests will be used to monitor and manage your condition.

Find information about specific tests:

• C-reactive protein
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)
• Full blood count
• HLA-B27 test