University of Amsterdam researchers analyzed family members' risk of spine disease if related to a person with spine disease, according to Medpage Today.
The study analyzed 51 first-degree relatives of 36 probands (starting point people for genetic study of families) with ankylosing spondylitis.
Here are five things to know:
1. Of the relatives, 17 met spondyloarthritis criteria, developed by the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis International Society or the European Spondyloarthropathy Study Group.
2. Sixteen percent of those relatives who did not meet spondyloarthritis criteria, demonstrated imaging abnormalities commonly seen in spondyloarthritis cases. These abnormalities included bone marrow edema of the sacroiliac joints, among others.
3. Those relatives who met spondyloarthritis criteria experienced tenderer entheseal points than those who did not meet the criteria.
4. The spondyloarthritis criteria relatives also had a higher physician's global assessment of disease activity and experienced worse nocturnal pain.
5. Researchers recommended expanding the sample size and following up with the subjects to understand the sequence of events leading to spondyloarthritis development.