What are the characteristics and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis in women?

In clinical work, there are quite a few female ankylosing spondylitis patients, and the number is on the rise. Compared with male patients, female patients generally have milder symptoms, and the remission period can sometimes last for several years. So what are the symptoms and characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis in women?

Symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis in women

(1) Recurrent swelling and pain in the knee or ankle joints, joint effusion, and no obvious history of trauma or infection. Recurrent swelling and pain in the calcaneal tuberosity or heel pain.

(2) Low back pain and stiffness lasting for more than 3 months and not relieved by rest. Spinal pain, stiffness, and even limited mobility, with no obvious history of trauma or sprain.

(3) Bilateral buttocks and hip joint pain, with no obvious history of trauma or strain. Sudden pain, swelling, and dysfunction in the spine and large joints of the limbs.

(4) Unilateral or bilateral sciatica with no obvious history of trauma or sprain. There were no respiratory symptoms such as cough, chest pain or tightness with no history of trauma, and limited chest movement.

Characteristics of ankylosing spondylitis in women

1. Affected joints

Among the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis in women, peripheral joints are more commonly affected, such as shoulders, elbows, wrists, knees, ankles, toes, temporomandibular joints, etc., and sternocostal joints are also more commonly affected, while axial joints such as the thoracic vertebrae and lumbar vertebrae are less affected than in men. It has been reported abroad that the incidence of knee joint involvement in female and male patients with ankylosing spondylitis is 50% and 25% respectively, and the incidence of neck involvement is 40% and 16% respectively. The incidence of peripheral joint involvement was slightly higher in females than in males, at 57% and 48% respectively. There are also reports that pubic symphysis involvement is more common in women with ankylosing spondylitis than in men.

Extra-articular manifestations

It has been reported that the incidence of anemia in female ankylosing spondylitis is higher than that in males. Foreign reports showed that 8 out of 25 female ankylosing spondylitis patients (32%) had anemia to varying degrees. Domestic studies reported that 50% of 14 female ankylosing spondylitis patients had anemia.

According to statistics, women are less likely to suffer from ankylosing spondylitis than men. However, judging from the symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis, female patients are more at risk, which is a problem that cannot be ignored. Women should take effective prevention measures in a timely manner, and once they suffer from ankylosing spondylitis, they should receive timely treatment.