Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Ankylosing spondylitis differential diagnosis
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Ankylosing spondylitis must be differentiated from other diseases causing reactive arthritis,rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
Preferred Table
Preferred Table
| Arthritis Type | Clinical Features | Body Distribution | Key Signs | Laboratory Abnormalities | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| History of Psoriasis | Symmetric joint involvement | Asymmetric joint involvement | Enthesopathy | Dactylitis | Nail Dystrophy | Human immunodeficiency virus association | Upper extremity-hands | Lower extremity | Sacroiliac joints | Spine | Osteopenia | Joint Space | Ankylosis | Periostitis | Soft tissue swelling | ESR | Rheumatoid factor (RF) | HLA-B27 | |
| Psoriatic arthritis | + | + | ++ | + | + | + | + | +++ (DIP/PIP) | +++ | ++ (Unilateral) | ++ | – | ++ (Widening) | ++ | +++ (Fluffy) | ++ | + | – | 30-75% |
| Rheumatoid arthritis | – | ++ | + | – | – | – | – | +++ | +++ | + (Unilateral) | ++(Cervical) | +++ | +++ (Narrowing) | + | + (Linear) | +++ | +++ | +++ | 6-8% |
| Ankylosing spondylitis | – | +++ | – | + | – | – | – | + | + | +++ (Bilateral) | +++ | +++ | ++ (Narrowing) | +++ | +++ (Fluffy) | + | +++ | – | 90% |
| Reactive arthritis (Reiter’s syndrome) | – | +++ | – | + | + | – | – | ++ | +++ | ++ (Unilateral) | + | + | + (Narrowing) | – | +++ (Fluffy) | ++ | ++ | – | 75% |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Â ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Vamsikrishna Gunnam M.B.B.S [2]