About the disease
Psoriatic arthritis is a disease of the immune system, when a person develops psoriasis and arthritis of the joints. This disease is usually characterized by inflammation of the joints and appearance of the red patches on the skin, which can be itchy and irritated. According to Medicine.Net, approximately 30% of people who have arthritis can also develop psoriasis and vice versa. Most commonly, a person first develops arthritis, which is usually the most prominent on the elbow and also on the soles and toes, and then, years later, can develop arthritis.
In people with psoriasis, arthritis can develop in absolutely different joints. The most common areas where arthritis can indeed appear are tendons and cartilage. Arthritis can also develop in the spine and in rare cases in the lung lining.
Psoriasis is most common in Caucasian population, affecting approximately 2% of this population. In 80% this condition occurs prior to arthritis. Psoriasis most commonly develops in people over age 55, whereas arthritis can be present in middle-aged people and can come and go with periods of flare-ups and remissions. In fact, it`s very important to treat psoriasis on time to prevent development of arthritis in future. Psoriasis needs to be treated even if it manifests itself only in a mild form, as this means that skin cells develop abnormally anyway and cause appearance of red patches on certain areas of the skin. Psoriatic arthritis is believed to be running in families, although this disease can skip generations and manifest itself only in later offsprings.
Symptoms
- Red patches on the skin
- Cracking and bleeding of the skin
- Irritation
- Pain in the joints
- Reduced motion mobility
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Patting of the fingernails and toenails
Diagnosis
- During general examination, a dermatologist will examine the skin of the patient for the signs of redness and inflammation on the elbows and knees. He will also ask a patient to bend knee and elbow in different position to determine if joints are painful as well.
- A blood test is ordered to rule out the possibility of an infection.
- An X-ray of the joints and other imaging tests, such as MRI and CT scans, can be ordered to determine if a person has arthritis. These imaging tests can also show the stage of arthritis and which joints are affected.
Treatment
- Most commonly, conservative treatment of psoriatic arthritis includes certain anti-inflammatory drugs, designed to reduce the pain in the joints and also to reduce the redness on certain patches of the skin. In progressed stages, corticosteroids may be used as well to reduce inflammation. A person also needs to exercise regularly to broaden the mobility motions of their joints. Certain antibiotics can also be prescribed to treat the skin if there is an infection.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko
