Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), currently grouped under the term axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), is a chronic form of arthritis that causes inflammatory back pain and can gradually result in impaired spinal mobility. It can also cause eye inflammation (uveitis), arthritis of limb joints, inflammation at sites of bony attachments of tendons and ligaments (enthesitis), and associated psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease. No cure has yet been found; however, early diagnosis and proper medical and lifestyle management are very important in reducing the risk of deformity and disability.

Written by a leading expert on the subject who himself has been living with AS since age 12, this book provides clear and practical information on the clinical symptoms and signs, underlying causes, genetic predisposition, diagnosis, treatments, and impact on daily life. The combination of scientific knowledge and personal experience results in a unique book which will prove invaluable for patients and their families and friends, as well as allied health professionals and students wishing to know more about the condition.

The second edition has been fully updated to cover the tremendous advancements made in the clinical recognition and effective management since the first edition in 2002. It also includes a glossary of medical terms and links to sources of further information to give patients the tools they need to understand and manage the condition effectively.