Ankylosing Spondylitis ICD-10-CM Codes

They will conduct blood tests to check for the HLA-B27 gene, which makes people more at risk of having ankylosing spondylitis. They will also conduct imaging tests to confirm it and see its location.

If ankylosing spondylitis is left unchecked and untreated for too long, patients will be at risk of getting spinal fractures, their spines curving forward, osteoporosis, chest pain, impacted breathing, nerve scarring, and heart disease.

Conservative treatment involves getting regular exercise to slow down or stop the disease from progressing. It also involves taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Some might administer corticosteroid injections.

If the disease has progressed and the spine has been severely impacted, surgery might be needed to implant artificial joints and correct any curves.