What is psoriatic arthritis? Psoriasis is a skin condition that affects 2% of the population. About 10% of those who have psoriasis may eventually develop an arthritis which is, as part of the course of the psoriatic skin condition, called psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic destructive arthritic condition, which, if left untreated, may eventually lead to joint destruction. Psoriatic arthritis is thought to be an autoimmune process, in which the body mounts an immunogenic response against self, which results in widespread inflammation and destruction.

What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis? Psoriatic arthritis can affect any joints in the body, with predilection for larger joints in arms and feet and also smaller joints in the hand. When psoriatic arthritis affects joints in the fingers, it can cause a sausage-like swelling of the fingers, which is typical to psoriatic arthritis. When it affects fingernails, it causes them to be pitted, thickened and discoloured.

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are relapsing and remitting, which means they come and go, periodically flare up and then subside and also vary in intensity. In some cases, the arthritis persists, causing considerable pain and discomfort. Sometimes, the spine may be affected, resulting in bending difficulty.

What are the causes of psoriatic arthritis? The causes of psoriatic arthritis are still unknown. Some researchers believe that the disorder develops as a result of genetic instability, while others suspect external exposure to bugs has to do with the cause. In some cases, psoriatic arthritis arise after exposure to streptococcal throat infection, which leads to researchers to believe that both genetic make up and environmental factors have an important role in triggering psoriatic arthritis.

Which population group gets psoriatic arthritis? Both men and women are at equal risk of getting psoriatic arthritis. The onset of psoriatic arthritis is usually between the third and fifth decades. About 10% of those who have psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

How is psoriatic arthritis diagnosed? Psoriatic arthritis is diagnosed by identifying the typical features of psoriatic arthritis. Joints are usually swollen and painful. Blood tests may show features of inflammation for example elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and mild anemia and elevated uric acid.

How is psoriatic arthritis treated? Since symptoms of psoriatic arthritis come and go, psoriatic arthritis may only necessitate treatment when symptoms arise. When symptoms subside, treatment can be stopped. This is contrary to the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, which usually requires treatment on a regular basis. First line treatment may include non-steroidal inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which include ibuprofen and naproxen. Occasionally in refractive cases, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) can be considered and these include sulfasalazine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, azathioprine, etc. Surgery is the last resort, which can be helpful to replace badly damaged joints.

Conclusion: In conclusion, psoriatic arthritis is a chronic destructive joint disorder that comes and goes. It affects 10% of those who suffer psoriasis. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis is only justified when it becomes symptomatic and can be stopped when symptoms subside. Surgery to replace damaged joints is the last resort.