Rare Complication?

[Jajabinks]

So according to the CCFA, Ankylosing Spondylitis is a rare complication of Crohn's Disease affecting only 2%-5% of us. Do you feel this number is accurate? From the looks of the forums and support groups, a lot of us are getting the rare complication.

 

[Cosmojo]

This is a good point, although to be fair if you consider the people who contribute to this forum it is in general those who suffer from more symptoms or have more severe cases, so the perception could be off from a contribution bias.

 

[afidz]

In my opinion, CCFA isn't always reliable. I have seen them post some weird stuff on their facebok page as well as mispelling Crohn's. Yes, I think they are a good patient resource, but as far as research goes, I am not to sure. But again, just my opinion.
If you research AS, you will find that it comes from the gene HLA-B27. That is the same gene that Crohn's and several other auto immune diseases come from (not all people with Crohn's have this gene, but I do believe all people with AS have it)
This has been a GREAT resource for me in the last couple months, check it out, I think you will find IBD mentioned throughout it as well
http://www.spondylitis.org/about/as.aspx

 

[Clash]

Not everyone that has AS is HLA B27+:

Most individuals who have AS also have a gene that produces a "genetic marker" - in this case, a protein - called HLA-B27. This marker is found in over 95% of people in the Caucasian population with AS (the association between ankylosing spondylitis and HLA-B27 varies greatly between ethnic and racial groups, see our AS Diagnosis section for more information). It is important to note, however, that you do not have to be HLA-B27 positive to have AS. Also, a majority of the people with this marker never contract ankylosing spondylitis.

http://www.spondylitis.org/as/aspx

 

[afidz]

Right, I remember reading that, thanks for the correction!