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A possible case of spondyloarthropathy in a prehistoric Japanese skeleton
Author(s) -
Inoue K.,
Takigawa W.,
Sato M.,
Kumagai M.,
Dodo Y.,
Katayama K.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international journal of osteoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1099-1212
pISSN - 1047-482X
DOI - 10.1002/oa.768
Subject(s) - paleopathology , periostitis , spondyloarthropathy , skeleton (computer programming) , ossification , osteology , prehistory , medicine , axial skeleton , paleoanthropology , archaeology , geography , anatomy , pathology , ankylosing spondylitis , surgery
Palaeopathology helps to define the migration of past diseases. Genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of spondyloarthropathy (SpA). We report skeletal remains with SpA from the Jomon period in Japan. The skeleton is of a female who died at a young adult age. The skeleton had characteristic features seen in SpA as follows: (1) polyarticular arthritis; (2) erosions accompanying some bone formation; (3) enthesial ossification; and (4) periostitis in lower long bones. The findings suggest that SpA was present in prehistoric Japan before contact with European civilisation, and the present example of SpA is the oldest in Asia and the Old World. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.