What is psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is a disease of the joints that occurs in approximately 10% of patients suffering from skin psoriasis. In some cases, arthritis appears earlier and skin lesions develop over time, and in others, skin involvement does not occur despite suffering from joint disease. According to data from the study of the prevalence of rheumatic diseases in the Spanish adult population (EPISER 2016), the prevalence of this disease is 0.58%.
The joint injury is inflammatory, with pain, swelling, heat, difficulty moving the inflamed joint and, over time, the possibility of deformation. It is a chronic disease that evolves irregularly throughout life, alternating periods of inactivity and others of inflammation and pain. Psoriatic arthritis starts slowly and the way it manifests is different for each individual. Joint symptoms are common to any type of arthritis, but there are three things that set it apart: the joint involvement is usually asymmetric, it damages the distal interphalangeal joints, and it produces joint inflammation of the joints and tendons of the fingers, known as a “sausage finger” or dactylitis.
How is it diagnosed?
The diagnosis is made by demonstrating the presence of psoriasis in the patient or in their first-degree relatives, demonstrating that arthritis is present, and confirming that the clinical and radiological features correspond to psoriatic arthritis.
Swelling (arthritis) of the 4th joint. Proximal interphalangeal of the right hand.
What is the treatment?
As for treatment, the goal is to reduce joint pain and inflammation, control skin psoriasis, and delay or prevent joint pain. Treatments vary for each patient and may include anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, disease-modifying drugs, biologics, and others. The choice of treatment will depend on the intensity and extent of the inflamed joints, as well as the severity of the skin lesions.
Maintaining regular follow-up with rheumatologists and dermatologists, as well as adopting an active lifestyle with appropriate exercises, contribute to effective management of psoriatic arthritis.
