Common Name(s):
Bamboo Spine Disease
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Ankylosing Spondylitis (CLINICAL), Marie Strumpell Disease (CLINICAL)
Description
The immune system aggressively targets the entheses, the specific locations where ligaments and tendons attach directly to the bones of the spine. As the chronic inflammation heals, the body mistakenly lays down new bone tissue, physically bridging and fusing the individual vertebrae together. It disproportionately affects young men possessing the HLA-B27 genetic marker, severely restricting their spinal mobility.