Refuting earlier claims researchers have discovered that a degenerative spinal condition and not a spinal inflammatory disease hit members of the ancient Egyptian royal families from the 18th to the early 20th dynasties. Ankylosing spondylitis a systemic disease that causes inflammation in the spinal joints was earlier thought to have affected members of the ancient Egyptians. Instead the team found a degenerative spinal condition called diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) affected them. 'In studying these ancient remains we may be able to uncover the pathway of diseases - like ankylosing spondylitis or DISH - and how they might impact modern
