Bechterew’s Syndrome

Abstract

Bechterew’s syndrome was used to explain the classic and old manifestation of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and spondyloarthropathy (SpA) and also is much more generally used among German medical communities. Despite primary clinical and anatomical descriptions of AS indicating it was a distinct disease, the concept underlying AS developed over time with the development of roentgenology and other medical and scientific advances (Von Bechterew 1893; Strümpell 1897; Sieper et al. 2002). AS is a heterogeneous group and seronegative inflammatory of rheumatologic diseases with widely known genetic and clinical characteristics. The AS is categorized as axial or peripheral depending on the most vulnerable regions of the human system (Hamsen et al. 2018; Zhu et al. 2019). A specific kind of general term called spondyloarthropathies is AS, known almost as an autoimmune disease mostly affecting the sacroiliac joints (SIJs), spine joints, and surrounding soft tissues, including ligaments and tendons. During the late stages of the disease, this inflammation might result in calcification and fibrosis, leading to a spine fusion and reduced flexibility, looking like “bamboo” in such a motionless posture. A specific pain localized in the lower back, gradual rigidity in the spine, and inflammation flared up in the hip, peripheral joints (toes/fingers), and shoulders seem to be the most common clinical signs and symptoms. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and acute anterior uveitis are two common extraarticular manifestations (Lindström et al. 2018; Moltó and Nikiphorou 2018).