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Psoriatic Arthritis: A Two-in-One Health Problem

Psoriasis and arthritis, combine them and what do you get? Something called psoriatic arthritis. It's a condition that affects around two percent of Caucasians in the United States. It's not as common as other forms of arthritis, such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, but there are still many people who acquire the disease. Not all people who have arthritis have psoriasis, but a percentage of people who have psoriasis do develop the arthritic form of the disease over time. Sometimes, though, people with arthritis also acquire psoriasis after a period of months or years.

Psoriatic arthritis has the hallmarks of both psoriasis and arthritis. The skin suffers inflammation and will appear red and swollen. Skin scaling and patchiness can also be seen. As you can probably imagine, these skin formations are unattractive, especially if they appear in places that are easily seen, such as the elbows or behind the neck. It can also occur on the scalp, knees, genital area, and anus. Tiny dots or pitting also appears in the fingernails and toenails.

The arthritis part of the disease is seen in swollen, painful joints. In addition, the fingers and toes can swell, making them resemble small sausages. Occurrence can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, meaning its appearance in one part of the body can be mirrored in the opposite side of the body -- or not. And because it is a systemic disease, it can affect body parts other than the joints and skin. It can affect the eyes, causing conditions such as conjunctivitis and episcleritis. People with this disease are also at risk for acquiring aortic valve disease, as well as other forms of arthritis, such as gout.

Diagnosis of this disease is made in several ways. A doctor may have the patient undergo X-rays to determine any changes in the bone; testing of blood and joint fluid (synovial fluid) may also be undertaken to determine if the patient has the disease, and not some other disorder with similar symptoms.

There is no cure as yet for the psoriatic arthritis. What the rheumatologist will do once a firm diagnosis is made is to prescribe medications to treat the symptoms, to prevent the disease from becoming worse, and to make it easier to cope with. Those who have severe cases of the disease might find it necessary to undergo surgery or other radical therapeutic procedures. Physical therapy and doing certain exercises are also necessary in order to maintain joint function.