Differential Diagnosis
To diagnose ankylosing spondylitis, a doctor needs to eliminate all of the health conditions with similar signs. This is because there is not a comprehensive method to confirm the presence of this health issue. Several diseases with overlapping symptoms include vertebra fracture, back pain, arthritis caused by inflammatory bowel disease or infections, psoriatic arthritis, or osteoarthritis. With a differential diagnosis, your doctor can rule out other possible causes and make a proper treatment plan. [5]
