Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of secondary arthrtitis as it affects most people suffering from psoriasis.  Psoriasis is a skin condition characterized by areas of the skin that develop inflammatory plaques and excessing skin formation.  This skin inflammtion, accompanied by inflammation of the joints is psoriatic arthritis.  Often these two symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are accompanied with pitting of the fingernails or loss of the entire nail.

Psoriatic arthritis usually develops about ten years after the onset of psoriasis.  However, it can develop at any age and occasionally, joint inflammation of psoriatic arthritis occur before skin involvement of psoriasis.

Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis also can also affect tendons and fingers of these patients.  Tendonitis is common as is apparent swelling of the fingers making them sausage-like.  Radiological exams of these sausage-like fingers indicate the appearance of ‘fluffy’ new bone.

Psoriatic arthritis can be grouped into five categories arthritis:

Symmetric: This type is most common and affects joints on both sides of the body simultaneously. This type is most similar to Rheumatoid arthritis and is disabling in around 50% of all cases.

Asymmetric: This type is generally mild. This type involves less than 3 joints and does not occur in the same joints on both sides of the body.

Arthritis mutilans: Arthritis mutilans a severe, deforming and destructive form of psoriatic arthritis. This condition causes extreme joint damage.

Spondylitis: This type of psoriatic arthritis produces stiffness of the spine or neck and can involve the hands and feet similarly to symmetric arthritis.

Distal interphalangeal predominant: This type of psoriatic arthritis is characterised by inflammation and stiffness in the joints nearest to the fingertips and ends of toes.

Psoriatic arthritis is another debilitating form of arthritis and ranges in severity from mild to extremely severe in both pain and debilitation.