Delayed Diagnosis of Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Missed Opportunity?

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory condition involving the axial spine, often associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 genotype and supporting radiographic imaging findings. Patients develop symptomatic low back and/or hip pain beginning in late adolescence or early adulthood. Diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis is based primarily on clinical presentation and imaging studies. In this article, we are presenting a case of a 40-year-old male patient who presented to the office with chief concerns of chronic mid-thoracic back pain and restricted range of motion of his neck. The imaging study obtained was suggestive of fusion of the sacroiliac joints. This article also highlights the presence of elevated inflammatory markers in the setting of the patients chronic symptomatic complaints which could have guided in early diagnosis.