Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) is a painful and progressive form of arthritis that affects the spine, leading to severe disability. Though it’s still not known what causes AS, experts believe it could be related to genetics or environmental factors. Research indicates that the root cause of Ankylosing Spondylitis is related to an abnormal immune response to certain bacteria in the body.
The exact mechanism behind this process remains unclear, but it appears that there is an excessive release of cytokines in response to bacteria which causes inflammation and damage to joints and ligaments. This triggers an autoimmune reaction where the body attacks itself instead of fighting off infection, leading to further destruction of healthy tissue. Another possible factor behind AS could be genetic mutations or changes in genes associated with inflammation or pain pathways; however, more research needs to be conducted on this topic.