Patients with suspected ankylosing spondylitis should undergo laboratory and imaging tests.
1. Laboratory tests: Ankylosing spondylitis patients should undergo laboratory tests such as routine blood tests, autoantibodies, HLA-B27 gene test, blood sedimentation, C-reactive protein, liver and kidney function, and urine routine, etc. About 90% of the patients with ankylosing spondylitis are positive for HLA-B27, and the tests of blood sedimentation and C-reactive protein can reflect the degree of disease activity.
2. Imaging tests: common imaging tests include X-ray, MRI and CT, of which MRI is helpful for early diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis and judgment of disease activity, while CT can detect bone damage in sacroiliac joints.
It is recommended that patients with suspected ankylosing spondylitis go to the rheumatology and immunology department of regular hospitals, complete the relevant examinations and standardized diagnosis and treatment under the guidance of doctors, and have regular follow-ups.