Psoriatic Arthritis

What it is?

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disease of the joints in patients with psoriasis. This type of arthritis develops in approximately five percent of psoriasis patients. The appearance of skin changes usually precedes the development of joint damage; in approximately 15% of patients, arthritis develops before skin damage.

Why does this happen?

The cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown. Arthritis often develops with clear skin lesions, but there is no clear connection between the severity and course of skin and joint manifestations. Inflammatory changes and deformation occur in the joints. Provoking factors in the development of psoriatic arthritis are often stress and infectious diseases.

What's happening?

In its course, psoriatic arthritis resembles rheumatoid arthritis. The distinctive symptoms are:

1. Asymmetrical joint damage;
2. Purple-bluish coloration of the skin over the affected joint, pain and swelling of the joints;
3. Early involvement of the big toe;
4. Heel pain;
5. Frequent damage to several joints on the fingers is the formation of the so-called sausage-shaped finger.

With psoriatic arthritis, skin manifestations of psoriasis are often found in patients, which makes the diagnosis easier. The course of psoriatic arthritis is usually chronic with periods of exacerbation and improvement. Sometimes there are signs of damage to internal organs: eyes, myocardium, urinary tract.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is made by a rheumatologist during examination and after consultation with a dermatologist. To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will order a blood test from a vein to determine rheumatoid factor and rule out rheumatoid arthritis. It is also necessary to take an x-ray of the affected joints. If internal organs are damaged, consultations with other doctors may be necessary.

Treatment

Treatment of psoriatic arthritis should be comprehensive and carried out together with a dermatologist. If left untreated, psoriatic arthritis can severely deform the joint and lead to disability. Currently, there is no cure for psoriasis, but there are many techniques that can reduce the painful symptoms. Modern drugs make it possible to manage the disease, completely relieving the symptoms of the disease. However, this requires constant medical supervision and systematic treatment.

Treatment for psoriatic arthritis is similar to treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Anti-inflammatory drugs (diclofenac, indomethacin) and corticosteroid hormones are used for treatment. If necessary, drugs can be injected directly into the joint. In severe cases of psoriatic arthritis, blood purification - plasmapheresis - can be performed. This reduces inflammation and relieves symptoms of psoriasis.

For patients with psoriatic arthritis, spa treatment is indicated outside of periods of exacerbation.