Does ankylosing spondylitis reduce longevity?

No: Not unless there are significant cardiac, pulmonary or neurologic complications from the disease.

Not true! It does.: Studies in the sixties suggest increased mortality from heart disease and GI bleeding. I found 13 articles none of which suggests the contrary. Here is a recent reference: http://www.Clinexprheumatol.Org/article.Asp?A=1455 the authors included dr. Ted pincus. Bywaters from england first made the observation in the sixties! perhaps newer medications avaiable will rectify this, but not shown yet!