Louane: What is ankylosing spondylitis, the disease from which she suffers?

The singer Louane recently revealed in the podcast suffering from a chronic disease still unknown: the Ankylosing spondylarthrite. Behind her smile and energy, this inflammatory disease affects thousands of patients in France every day. But what is it exactly and how does it manifest?

Despite its complexity, it is possible to understand the main lines of this pathology. Knowing the symptoms, causes and treatments not only better understand the disease, but also to support the people concerned, like Louane, in their daily lives.

Autoimmune inflammatory disease from which Louane suffers

Ankylosing spondylitis (SA) is a chronic inflammatory disease which mainly affects the spine and the basin. Peripheral joints, such as knees, ankles or wrists, can also be affected. She is one of the Autoimmune diseases, which means that the immune system mistakenly attacks certain joints and tissues.

The most frequent symptoms include inflammatory back pain, a morning stiffness and a persistent fatigue. In some cases, other areas can be affected, such as eyes with theuveitis, the skin with the Psoriasis, or the digestive system related to chronic inflammatory diseases.

Ankylosing spondylitis: causes and risk factors

The exact cause of ankylosing spondylitis remains unknown, but several factors contribute to its appearance. A genetic predisposition is frequent, in particular the presence of the antigen HLA-B27, found in 80 to 90 % of patients. However, being a bearer of this gene does not guarantee the development of the disease.

Environmental factors and anomalies in Intestinal microbiota could also play a role in triggering pathology. It most often affects young adults, between 15 and 35 years old, and can evolve slowly over several years.

Diagnosis and management

THE Diagnosis is based on the observation of symptoms, clinical examinations, blood tests and medical imaging, in particular radiographs and MRI, which make it possible to detect inflammation and the first bone lesions.

There is no curative treatment, but the disease can be Mastered thanks to anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy and regular exercises. Severe forms may require Targeted biotherapies such as anti-TNFs or IL-17 inhibitors, in order to reduce inflammation and protect the joints.

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