What is the HLA-B27 gene?

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HLA-B27 is a perfectly normal gene found in 8% of the general population. Generally speaking, no more than 2% of people born with this gene will eventually get spondylitis. The gene itself does not cause spondylitis, but people with HLA-B27 are more susceptible to getting spondylitis. Back to top... If a parent, brother or sister has spondylitis, and I test positive for HLA-B27, what are my chances of getting the disease? If a family member had spondylitis and you test positive for the HLA-B27 gene, your chance of getting the disease increases to 20%, if you are under age 40. If you are over 40, your chance of developing spondylitis is very low. If you have AS, the likelihood of passing it on to your children is relatively low. There is approximately a 50% chance that the child of one HLA-B27+ parent will inherit the gene, but only a small percentage of those will develop AS. Back to top... How is ankylosing spondylitis diagnosed? A thorough physical exam including x-rays, individual ... more
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