We are grateful to Dr. H. Inoue, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Juntendo University, Dr. Y. Komatsubara, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka Adult Disease Center, Dr. M. Tujimoto, Department of Rheumatology, Osaka Rosai Hospital, and the members of the Japanese Ankylosing Spondylitis Club for providing serum samples.
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