Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory condition that primarily affects the joints of the spine, causing pain, stiffness, and eventually, fusion of the vertebrae. It belongs to a group of disorders known as spondyloarthropathies, which also includes conditions like psoriatic arthritis and reactive arthritis. AS primarily affects the spine, but it can also involve other joints, tendons, and ligaments, as well as other organs in some cases.