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CONTACT:

Jason Blackwell
Director, Brand Experience & Public Affairs
Spondylitis Association of America
818.303.9183
jason.blackwell@spondylitis.org
spondylitis.org

Encino, Calif. — For researchers and the spondyloarthritis community, 2023 marks another historic anniversary. Fifty years ago, researchers first unearthed a groundbreaking connection between the HLA-B27 antigen and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). This discovery had a profound and lasting impact on both the field of rheumatology and people living with AS.

Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic and potentially debilitating rheumatic condition that has perplexed the medical community for decades due to its elusive etiology. While it is widely acknowledged that genetic factors play a pivotal role in susceptibility, the exact mechanisms have remained elusive.

In the US, ankylosing spondylitis had been misclassified for an extended period due to an erroneous perception that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and AS were one disease. This misclassification persisted for several decades until rheumatologist Carl Pearson and transplant immunologist researcher colleagues at UCLA discovered and published the relationship between HLA-B27 and AS.

The discovery of the relationship in 1973 revealed an association between the HLA-B27 gene and ankylosing spondylitis. People that have ankylosing spondylitis are likely to have the HLA-B27 gene. However, what sets this revelation apart is the recognition that the gene alone does not guarantee the onset of the condition, shedding light on the intricate and multifaceted nature of the disease.

Michael H. Weisman, MD, FACP, Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Emeritus, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and member of the Spondylitis Association of America’s Medical & Scientific Advisory Board, has dedicated his career to researching the disease and treating patients impacted by it. Weisman commented, “HLA-B27 has played a vital role in diagnosing AS early before damage has occurred, and along with advances in MRI, we now can identify patients early in their course and prescribe life-changing medications to relieve pain and hopefully avoid damage.”

Today, we know that ankylosing spondylitis is not rare. AS and its related diseases impact more than 3.2 million Americans and millions more individuals worldwide. Beyond the physical symptoms of chronic pain, stiffness, and, in severe cases, spinal fusion, AS may also cause emotional and financial challenges.

The discovery of the relationship 50 years ago represented a leap forward in our understanding of ankylosing spondylitis. So, while HLA-B27 undoubtedly plays a crucial role, it is not the sole determinant. We are now challenged to delve deeper into the complex connection between genetics and other factors to better understand the disease.

To learn more about the history of HLA-B27 and AS, click here.

About the Spondylitis Association of America

Since our founding in 1983, the Spondylitis Association of America has been the leading national nonprofit providing educational resources, connections, and the critical emotional support that people living with spondylitis need. SAA is committed to increasing awareness of spondylitis, providing information and support to patients and their families, and funding research to ultimately uncover a cure for the disease.

SAA has a wealth of information, educational materials, and resources for medical practitioners, the newly diagnosed, people seeking a proper diagnosis, and people who have already been diagnosed and want to optimize the management of their disease.