Hi Sarah...Rheumatoid Arthritis is in the same family that AS is in, it's an autoimmune disease, I've heard them referred to as the collagen diseases and connective tissue diseases too...my oldest daughter Erica has RA...she leads a normal active life, she hasn't had a flare in over 2 years now...she runs 3 miles everyday and keeps up with a husband, a baby, their house and they travel quite a bit, so tell your friend to hang in there...

Age 7- Kidney Necrosis
Age 11-Bursitis
Age 14-Costo
Age 17-Psoriasis
Age 32-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Age 33-Sacroilitis
Age 35-Interstitial Cystitis
Age 40-AS
Age 44-Fibro
Age 44-PsA
Age 45-MS
Age 46-Sjogrens
Age 46-Raynauds
Age 47-PF