MySpondylitisTeam

Great question — these terms get mixed up a lot! Spondylitis and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are related but not exactly the same thing.

Spondylitis (also called spondyloarthritis) is an umbrella term for a family of related inflammatory conditions that primarily affect the spine, pelvis, and hips. AS is one specific type Show Full Answer

Great question — these terms get mixed up a lot! Spondylitis and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) are related but not exactly the same thing.

Spondylitis (also called spondyloarthritis) is an umbrella term for a family of related inflammatory conditions that primarily affect the spine, pelvis, and hips. AS is one specific type within that group. Here's a simple breakdown:

- Spondylitis/Spondyloarthritis — the broader category of conditions
- Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) — also called radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, this is a specific type where damage to the spine and sacroiliac joints is visible on X-rays
- Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) — another type where inflammation exists but isn't yet visible on X-rays

So think of it this way: all AS is spondylitis, but not all spondylitis is AS. The key difference with AS is that structural damage can be seen through imaging.

 AI-generated responses are not a substitute for medical advice. These services are not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition or disease. Always ask your doctor about specific health concerns.

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