7/27/2019 Psoriatic Arthritis_2
1/2
PsoriaticArthritis(PsA)isatypeofchronicinflammatoryarthritisthataffectspeoplewhohavepsoriasis
askinconditionthatcausesrednessandirritation.Psoriasisaffects13%ofthe
populationandarthritiscanbeseeninupto40%ofpatientswithpsoriasis,makingthisoneof
themostprevalentformsofarthritis.Mostpeopledeveloppsoriasisfirstandarelater
diagnosedwith
psoriatic
arthritis;
however,
they
can
occur
concurrently
and
sometimes
the
jointproblemscanbeginbeforeskinlesionsappear.
Psoriaticarthritisoccurswhenthebody'simmunesystembeginstoattackhealthycellsand
tissue.Theabnormalimmuneresponsecausesinflammationinthejointsaswellas
overproductionofskincells.
Jointpain,stiffnessandswellingarethemainsymptomsof
psoriaticarthritis.Inbothpsoriasisandpsoriaticarthritis,diseaseflaresmayalternatewith
periodsofremission.It'snotentirelyclearwhytheimmunesystemturnsonhealthytissue,butitseemslikelythat
bothgeneticandenvironmentalfactorsplayarole.Manypeoplewithpsoriaticarthritishavea
familyhistoryofeitherpsoriasisorpsoriaticarthritis.
Treatmentforpsoriaticarthritisisbestdirectedbyarheumatologist;however,manypatients
requirecomanagementbyadermatologist.
Thereisnocureforpsoriaticarthritis;thereforethefocusoftreatmentisoncontrollingsymptomsandpreventingdamagetothejoints.Without
propertreatment,psoriaticarthritismaybedisabling..SymptomsofPsoriaticArthritis
Theonsetofsymptomsmaybegradualandsubtleforsomepatientsandsuddenanddramatic
forothers.Generally,thesignsandsymptomsofpsoriaticarthritisincludethefollowing:
Discomfort,stiffness,pain,throbbing,swelling,ortendernessinoneormorejoints
Reducedrangeofmotioninjoints
Tendernesswheremusclesorligamentsattachtobones,particularlytheheelandbottomofthefoot
Inflammationorstiffnessinthelowerback
Nailchangessuchasseparatingfromthenailbed,orbecomingpittedorinfectedlooking
Morningstiffness
Generalfatigue
Rednessandpainintissuessurroundingtheeyes
