Hi Lisa,
I have not been able to track down any other family member with a dx of AS. However, my great aunt on my mother's side had RA.
In the past people with AS were dx'd with RA because there was no distinguishing feature. However, that changed when it was discovered that some people with RA had the HLAB27 gene.
Whilst a majority of people with AS have HLAB27 there is a minority who do not fit the mold. Even worse, there are people like myself who have turned into RA positive and ANA positive but who have AS.
I still suspect that my AS is a result of trauma, and I think that it goes way back to when I was 4 and was involved in a near fatal car accident.
I have thought long and hard about all of the little signs that existed and the next most logical sign would have to be the collapse of my feet - it was first noted that I had flat feet when I was about 11 years old. Prior to that time I did not know that there was a foot problem. My ankle sprains occurred about a year after this was noted and after I had to wear the most disgusting orthotics that you can imagine. They were made of steel. The only other distinguishing feature at that time was the onset of dandruff and bad skin.
So there are no clues as far as family members are concerned. I did not know any of my grandfathers. My mother has Parkinsons and she cannot remember a lot of things and so I have no one that I can ask.
