HLA B27 Negative but have Iritis and AS

[Rod]

Hi,

Is it true that you can be HLA B27 negative and still have Ankylosing Spondylitis?
I have had Iritis for around 10 years and sometimes I have a few attacks in a given year. I also have had incredible lower back pain and leg and foot pain at the same time. I have tried almost all medicines for inflarmation including methotrexate all to no avail, actually while I was on methotrexate I had an iritis attack in both eyes at the same time, that was shocking.
Anyhow a few years ago they done some tests and one of those tests was for HLA B27 which came back negative, yet I have AS. I have just had another bad iritis attack and incredible lower back pain, so they sent me for tests to see if I will qualify for some new drug that has become available in Australia for AS, but to get this drug (Not sure of it's name) it seems you have to be in a really bad way. I had all the tests the other day including blood tests and now I have to wait a few more weeks until I next see my specialist. I going to try and get in to see my GP ASAP so she could explain some of this to me, she has been a great help.
Below is the letter I received from the X-rays and CT scans, could someone explain to me what it all means please?

X-Ray Lumbo-Sacral Spine
There is a low grade curvature convex to the left, with it's apex at approximately L4. Alignment is otherwise within normal limits. The disc spaces are well preserved. Minor focal erosion of the anterior end-plates of L5 and S1 is noted, associated with subjacent bony sclerosis. There are also small anterior spurs at the superior margins of L3 and L4. The disc spaces are well preserved throughout, the pedicles are intact and ther are no compression fractures.

CT Lumbar Spine and Sacro Iliac Joints.
Clinical Indications: Further assessment in the context of known ankylosing spondylitis.
[/b]Findings: Within the scan range, there is no significant anterior or posterior malalignment.
L3/4: The disc shows circumferential bulge without focal posterior prolapse. There is moderate facet joints arthrosis, encroaching on the lateral recesses in conjuction with mild developmental shortening of the pedicles, but there is no critical central canal or foraminal stenosis.
L4/5: The disc shows moderate circumferential bulge without focal posterior prolapse. There is mild development and degenerative lateral recess narrowing, partly related to facet joint arthrosis, but no critical central canal or foraminal stenosis.
[/b]L5/S1: The disc shows moderate circumferential bulge without focal posterior prolapse. There is low grade lateral recess combined development and degenerative narrowing, but no frank neural compression, and no critical canal stenosis.

There are no pars defects or paravertebral masses. Typical anterior bony changes are noted within the L3,L4,L5 and S1 vertebral bodies..

With respect to the sacroilac joints, there is relatively symmetrical para-articular sclerosis and moderate erosions, without frank ankylosis at this time. No other specific abnormality is seen in adjacent bones.

Comment:
There is underlying developmental shortening of the pedicles at all 3 levels, with superimposed facet joint degenerative changes and low grade lateral recess stenosis bilaterally at all 3 levels, however, there is no frank neural compression and no critical central canal or foraminal stenosis. Typical bony lesions of ankylosing spondylitis are noted, without bridging syndesmophytes at this time. The sacroiliac joints show symmetrical grade 3 changes.

Thanks in advance
Rod

PS: When I see my specialist next, I will get the name of this new drug. It is not a cure, it is to better stablise it.

[Rod]

G-Day Mate,

The name of those 2 new drugs I mentioned above are Remicade and Enbrel.

www.remicade.com
www.enbrel.com

After seeing my specialist today, he said I will not qualify for those drugs from our goverment because I was HLA B27 negative but all the other tests I had qualified me for the drugs except being HLA B27 negative.
Fair dinkum, because of one negative result I miss out, what a bummer.
Maybe those drugs are not new in other parts of the world but they are new down here.

O well, back to the drawing board for me looking what else can be done to stablise my Iritis and AS.

Regards
Rod

[Mike Bartolatz]

Remicade would be the preferred med for uveitis related to Ankylosing spondylitis. enbrel does nothing for uveitis.

I don't understand your medical system so good luck getting drugs.

did you try NSAID therapy? indomethacin SR for example??

mike

[pixie]

I have AS and am HLA B27 negative - I`ve been helped by taking mobiflex ( tenoxicam ).