Unusual occurrence of ankylosing spondylitis and multiple sclerosis in a black patient.

A possible association between ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and multiple sclerosis (MS) has been suggested in whites. The authors describe the first report of the coexistence of AS and MS in a black patient. The clinical diagnosis of MS was further substantiated by the results of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. The diagnosis of AS met the Rome as well as the New York criteria. The patient possessed HLA-B27; his complete HLA phenotype was Aw66, B27, Cw2, DR3, and DR5.