Desktop disease specific banner alt 3 2x
Joints, Muscles and Bones Ankylosing Spondylitis Complications
Complications
About Ankylosing Spondylitis

Complications

Complications are other medical conditions which can result from AS or its treatment. 

Complications can make managing ankylosing spondylitis (AS) significantly more challenging and may negatively impact a person’s prognosis—that is, their ability to live well with the condition.

While AS itself typically has little effect on life expectancy, some complications can be life-threatening. These include cauda equina syndrome and cardiovascular disease.1

It is therefore important to take steps to prevent complications. Regular consultations with your doctor can help ensure that your AS is managed effectively and that any signs of complications are identified early.

3 boxes with line drawings and text. The first box is titled “Cardiovascular disease (reference 1)” and contains a heart with a warning sign and the text “conditions affecting the heart or blood vessels, including heart attacks and strokes.”, the second box is titled “Osteoporosis (reference 1)” and contains a broken bone and the text “weakening of the bones leading to an increased risk of spinal fractures.”, and the final box is titled “Cauda equina syndrome (reference 1) and contains the spine with a warning sign and the text “A rare but serious condition in which nerves at the bottom of the spine become compressed.

Co-morbidities

Co-morbidities are other medical conditions that occur alongside AS, as opposed to being a result of AS.

Comorbidities can also make managing any disease more difficult, as treatment plans for either condition need to be merged, and the effects of one treatment on another considered. Some comorbidities are more likely to occur alongside AS than others.1,2

3 boxes with line drawings and text. The first box is titled “Psoriasis (references 1, 2) and contains a chest with patches on and the text “A skin condition characterised by flaky, itchy skin patches.”, the second is titled “Uveitis (references 1, 2)” and contains an eye with blood vessels and the text “Inflammation in the eye causing irritation, redness, and leads to sight loss if not treated.”, and the last is titled “IBD (references 1,2)” and contains a gut with a swollen section that has lines radiating from it and the text “Inflammatory bowel disease causing diarrhoea and weight loss.”

References

  1. Ankylosing Spondylitis Overview– NHS. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/. Last accessed April 2025.
  2. Lata M et al. Targeting tumor necrosis factor receptors in ankylosing spondylitis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2019 Apr;1442(1):5-16. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13933. Epub 2018 Jul 15. PMID: 30008173.