Dr. Walter P. Maksymowych et al conducted a study looking at the relationship between inflammation and new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis.

It has long been thought that the inflammatory process in AS leads to scarring and then new bone formation, frequently along the spine. The worst cases of this can lead to kyphosis and a condition called "bamboo spine" where the spine is fully fused into a singular, yet weak column of bone.

The authors used MRI to identify active areas of inflammation in AS on a vertebrae is possibly more likely to cause formation of new bone. The authors conclude that indeed, "a syndesmophyte [a bony growth originating inside a ligament, commonly seen in the ligaments of the spine] is more likely to develop from a prior inflammatory lesion, supporting a relationship between inflammation and ankylosis."

To read the study's abstract, click here.

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