Juvenile ankylosing spondylitis.

Abstract

SummaryThree cases of ankylosing spondylitis with involvement of the ileosacral joints in infancy are described. In these cases the spondylitis began at the age of 5,8, and 12 years, respectively. In the case where the disease began at the age of 5, the spondylitic syndrome appeared at the outset and was predominant throughout the disease. In the second case the syndrome dominated the beginning of the disease, and in the case where the spondylitic syndrome appeared at the age of 12, syndromes from the peripheral joints had earlier existed for two years. All these cases were boys, and in none of them could any urogenital infection be diagnosed.Next, 9 cases of a cervical spondylitic syndrome during chronic arthritis in infancy are described. In 6 out of these there was dislocation between atlas and epistropheus, in 3 fusion of the posterior vertebral segment with diminishing of intervertebral discs. It is pointed out that cervical spondylitis is a common syndrome in cases of chronic arthritis in children and that, from a therapeutical point of view, it needs constant attention.