HLA-B27 is an immune gene that starts fighting against the body’s own bones and joints causing a group of diseases called Spondylosing Arthropathies. These include, Spondyloarthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Uveitis (in the eyes), Reactive Arthritis, Juvenile Arthritis (in the young). Testing for this gene is the only confirmatory diagnosis for the condition and a preliminary for precision diagnosis and treatment.

While there are many genes involved in other prevalent arthritic diseases such as Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis, researchers are still uncovering these genes and finding out how they contribute to disease. So they are not yet clinically relevant to be tested in people and patients.