ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS – RISK FACTORS
- Age: Usually affects young people. Onset after the age of forty is uncommon.
- Sex: Men are affected three times more than women.
- Genetic factor: The presence of inherited human leucocyte antigen B27 (HLA B27) has been correlated with the disease.
- Environmental: It is thought that environmental factors also play a role in causation of the disease.
- Autoimmune diseases: Presence of Crohn’s disease and Ulcerative Colitis increases the risk.