Woman's Lower Back Pain Reveals Hidden Artery Blockages and Rare Diagnosis

A young woman's persistent lower back pain has led to an unexpected medical discovery. Doctors initially suspected seronegative spondyloarthritis, a condition affecting the spine and joints. Further tests then revealed a surprising additional issue: significant blockages in her neck arteries.

The patient first sought help after months of worsening lower back pain. Unlike typical cases, her discomfort eased with movement and painkillers but flared up at rest. This pattern raised concerns about seronegative spondyloarthritis, a systemic inflammatory disease.

Diagnostic scans later uncovered atherosclerotic plaques narrowing nearly 50% of her neck blood vessels. The finding was unusual, as she lacked classic risk factors for atherosclerosis and reported no heart-related symptoms.

Alexander Subbotin, deputy director of the Institute of Clinical Medicine at Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, is overseeing her case. The patient remains under close observation and is currently receiving treatment for both conditions.

The case highlights the complexity of diagnosing overlapping conditions. Doctors continue to monitor her progress while addressing both the inflammatory disease and arterial blockages. Further updates will depend on her response to ongoing treatment.