Ankylosing spondylitis may be predicted by childhood infection, low birth weight or older siblings

A link has been found between developing ankylosing spondylitis in later life and low birth weight, childhood infections and having older siblings, experts explained at the European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress.
The research analysed data from several Swedish national registers, with five matched controls for each case of ankylosing spondylitis. Birth weight, gestational age, type of birth, number of older siblings and exposure to infections were all considered.
There was a significantly increased risk of ankylosing spondylitis in people with a birth weight under 3,000g (6.6 lb) as well as those with older siblings and people with a history of hospitalisation due to infections between the ages of 5 years and 16 years.
The cause of ankylosing spondylitis is currently unknown so the findings are of interest. Ankylosing spondylitis is strongly associated with the genotype HLA-B27 but not everyone testing positive for the marker develops the disease.
“Our research has identified three factors associated with significantly increased risk of the disease in later life,” explains Dr Ulf Lindström, study investigator. “This data strengthens our understanding of the interplay between genetics and environment in ankylosing spondylitis and brings us closer to pinpointing the underlying cause of the disease.”

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Image credit: Neal Fowler