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Introduction to Ankylosing Spondylitis
Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy (USpA)
Undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy (UspA) is a term used to describe patients who have symptoms compatible with ankylosing spondylitis but do not meet all of the criteria for diagnosis with AS or other types of spondylitis. Typically, some symptoms are present but not enough to make a definitive diagnosis. Over time, some people with USpA go on to develop ankylosing spondylitis or some other type of spondyloarthropathy.
Patients who suffer from USpA face significant frustration when seeking a diagnosis since many health care providers do not recognize or identify the grouping of symptoms as an independent entity. Patients may be told that they are "anxious and depressed" or may be misdiagnosed with fibromyalgia.
The prognosis of patients with USpA is generally good, though some will go on to develop ankylosing spondylitis. Some researchers theorize that patients with USpA who test positive for the presence of the HLA-B27 gene are more likely to develop AS. Therapy for USpA is usually symptomatic and the condition may be chronic though not severe.
