Employment inankylosing spondylitis

SUMMARY All patients with ankylosing spondylitis attending our rheumatology clinics were reviewed to assess the effect oftheir disease on employment. Back movement was measuredinthree planes, chest expansion determined, and peripheral joint involvement was noted to see whetherthesecorrelatedwithworkcapability. Sixtypatients were reviewed(47 men, 13 women;mean disease duration 24*3 years). Nine were unemployed, but only fourof these attributed thiscondition to ankylosing spondylitis. Although all four had severe neck, back, and hipinvolvement, this did not differentiate themfromotherpatientswho were fully employed. There was no relationship between disease duration and employment. The prospect for continuedemploymentin ankylosingspondylitis is good even whenthe disease is longstanding and severe. Ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a disease which de-velops in early adult life, can lead to severedeformity. However, two large reviews of ASpublished during the 1950s reported that employ-ment could be continued in up to 80% of