Delayed diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis in a Japanese population

摘要: AbstractObjectives: This study was conducted to evaluate the period from symptom onset diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Japanese patients and examine possible reasons for delayed diagnosis.Methods: Seventy-two consecutive with AS were studied. Diagnostic delay defined as gap between first spondyloarthropathic according modified New York criteria.Results: The mean patient ages at disease 25.6 ± 11.3 33.3 ± 13.2 years old, respectively, resulting diagnostic 6.7 years. number medical institutions which referred before 2.4, orthopedic surgeons most commonly visited (62%). Non-specific low back pain or lumbar (33%) degenerative arthritis (28%) primary diagnoses preceding that AS. Absence articular symptoms significantly correlated delay. on year 2000 later had significant...