Ankylosing spondylitis may be hereditary, with first-degree relatives having a greater chance of developing the disease than normal people. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease that is polygenic. The main susceptibility gene is HLA-B27, but being HLA-B27 positive does not necessarily mean that you will have ankylosing spondylitis. Because ankylosing spondylitis runs in families, studies have shown that first-degree relatives of patients are more likely to have ankylosing spondylitis. Ankylosing spondylitis starts slowly. Early symptoms include dull pain in the lumbosacral region, morning stiffness, and difficulty in turning over in the middle of the night, which can be alleviated with activity. With the development of the disease, from the lumbar spine to the thoracic and cervical spine, patients will experience pain in the affected area, spinal deformity and other symptoms. If a first-degree family member suffers from ankylosing spondylitis, regular medical checkups are recommended in order to find out if the disease is present, and if ankylosing spondylitis is diagnosed, timely consultation is recommended.