Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group How many folks are not positive for gene?

Hi, what gene is this? I was diagnosed about 5 years ago and the general thrust of the conversation i had with the specialist was "We don't know what causes it, there's no cure, come back every year & we'll measure how much movement you've lost since last time". Please tell me more about this gene thing.

Hi JP,

I've lived in a small town for 28 years and then came down to the city. Re the B27, I'm positive that I'm positive.

Breb Assyl

Hi Peter

Let me start by saying Welcome to Kick AS. The gene would be the HLA-B27. I my self tested neg for the gene but others have tested pos. Take Care for Now.

John

Hi,
Welcome to KickAS.
I am HLA-B27 negative. I grew up on a farm so I was exposed to all sorts of chemicals in fumigants,herbicides,and pesticides.
Something I have wondered about is if the AS could have anything to do with the fact that we had a milkcow and drank large amounts of non-pasteurized milk.
I also had problems with childhood vaccinations working properly. I was inocculated with smallpox vaccine 3 times and it never worked. I also had first AS symtoms shortly after taking the polio oral vaccine. I was given the polio vaccine injections earlier in life so I should have already had antibodies. I have always wondered if this had something to do with my immune system going haywire.
Maybe someday someone will figure this thing out and others won't have to live through this misery. It is too late for a cure to do me any good as I am past the reversible stages of the disease but it sure would be nice to know that no one else would have to live through this. Ottis

Dear JP:

Depending upon when and where you were tested for the MHC B27, you could actually be positive: More than one-half of the AS cases presenting at the London AS Clinic as non-B27, actually retested positive; there have been many 'false negatives.'

AS is caused by an environmental factor and it can be triggered by many and varied environmental misadventures. Few of these will ever be identified by the EPA, AMA, NIH, FDA, CDC, CIA, or any other three letter word infinite resource organization; we are on our own with help from IBM and the WWW.

There are other MHCs that can participate in the AS cycles: Especially B7 CREG (crossreactive grouping), and B60.

I have the gene that expresses B27.

But I wonder whether those without the gene also have elevated ESRs while in active flare?

Best Regards,
John

Hi John,

For several years, I have seen the HLA preceding the B27 and have gradually managed to understand most of this subject. Now you have changed to MHC B27 and my old and slow working brain will have to try and adapt to the new terminology. Or are you just messing with our heads?

Where, my friend, did the HLA go to?

George

Breb Assyl

Ah, George--sorry I left off the HLA. And (to all interested), I apologize for not being more clear: In our universe, MHC stands for Major Histocompatatility Complex and HLA still stands for Human Leucocyte Antigen.

How is the weight problem going??

Best to you,
John

I also have tested negitive twice. But since my dx I have found out that my uncle has AS also.

ah I see. So is it worth getting tested then?

Hi everyone! Thanks so much for the replies! I can honestly say that after reading them I am sorta back at square one. I've not heard of the gritty details that John the "Dragon Slayer" posted (Thank You John ~ Big Grin). So, I've gotta chat with my rheumy and see whats the deal. I thought that perhaps there would be some sorta pattern, city dwellers vs. country dwellers. Alas, there is not. It is interesting that there is such a variety in survivors of this ailment. I'll chat with everyone later, til then, take care. JP