Authors: Vose D et al.

A recent study published in the medical journal entitled Annals of Rheumatic Diseases sought to determine whether or not the bone loss that is observed in many people with AS results in increased vertebrae and non-vertebrae bone fracture.

The researchers were able to make several observations from the results of the study which included 758 AS patients. They found that people with AS have an increased risk of spinal fracture but not of other types of fracture. They also observed that patients with AS, who also have a history of inflammatory bowel disease, have an increase in any type of bone fracture. The researchers further concluded that an intake of non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications seemed to reduce the risk of fracture. Further studies were deemed necessary to further explore this last finding.

Ann Rheum Diseases Published Online First 9 December, 2008

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