DID BECHTEREW DESCRIBE THE DISEASE WHICH IS NAMED AFTER HIM - A QUESTION RAISED DUE TO THE CENTENNIAL OF HIS PRIMARY REPORT

From paleopathological studies of e,oyptian mummies it is known that p elvospondylitis existed in ancient times. In spite of that a disease e ntity has not been clearly defined until recent years. The discovery o f the rheumatoid factor, 1940 by Waaler and 1948 by Rose, allowed diff erentiation from RA. The first criteria for pelvospondylitis were prop osed at a symposium in Rome 1961. Another important step in the histor y of pelvospondylitis occurred in 1973 when the connection to the HLA- B27 was discovered. Initial clinical descriptions appeared in the last decade of the 18th century. One of the contributors was the Russian W ladimir Bechterew (Fig. I) whose name thereafter has been linked to th e disease. Since it is the centennial of Bechterew's original report i t seems appropriate to review that publication.