Spondyloarthritis in antiquity and in history

Spondyloarthropathy has a long history in the fossil record, one that even predates dinosaurs. It is prevalent in contemporary animals, especially apes, bears, rhinoceros, and Komodo dragons. Prevalence in the archaeologic record is predominantly uniform, independent of geology, except in areas where sanitation is compromised. Major advance in its diagnosis came about with the introduction of radiologic techniques, HLA-B27 tissue typing, and recognition that it was not a rheumatoid variant. In spondyloarthritis therapy, immobilization was replaced by active physiotherapy and thorough patient education.