Psoriatic arthritis
What is psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease and form of arthritis that causes inflammation of the joints, combined with the skin symptoms of psoriasis. This painful condition causes, discomfort, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints.1
Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis are critical to relieve pain and inflammation and help prevent progressive joint damage.1Without treatment and regular exercise, psoriatic arthritis may be disabling.2
Who does it affect?
Up to 30 per cent of people with psoriasis can develop psoriatic arthritis.1 Most people develop psoriasis first and are later diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, however arthritis can sometimes develop before skin lesions appear.2 Psoriatic arthritis can develop at any time, but most commonly appears between the ages of 30 to 50, affecting more men than women.1 Genetic factors are also believed to play a role.2
It is estimated that as many as 21,000 Australians and 4,000 New Zealanders suffer from psoriatic arthritis.3
What are the symptoms?
Psoriatic arthritis can affect any part of the body from fingertips to spine. It can develop slowly with mild symptoms, or come on quickly and be severe. The most common symptoms are:
- Pain, swelling and stiffness in one or more joints
- Pain and stiffness in the buttocks, lower back or neck
- Pain in tendons, such as at the back of the heel or sole of the foot
- Changes in nails, such as thickening, colour change or separation from the skin
- Pain and redness in the eyes.4
How is it diagnosed and managed?
No single test can confirm a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Doctors will assess signs and symptoms and work to rule out other causes of joint pain, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Tests include x-rays, blood tests and joint fluid tests.2
Although there is no known cure for psoriatic arthritis, there are treatment options available for controlling inflammation to prevent joint pain and disability.2
Pharmaceutical treatment options include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), corticosteroids and tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors.4
Where can I get more information?
Talk to your doctor or healthcare professional or visit some of the following sites that may offer more information.
National Psoriasis Foundation (US)
1 National Psoriasis Foundation (USA). Accessed 20 Oct 2009.
2 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Psoriatic Arthritis. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psoriatic-arthritis/DS00476/METHOD=print. Accessed 20 Oct 2009.
3 Abbott HEOR Data on file.
4 Arthritis Australia PsA factsheet http://www.arthritisaustralia.com.au/images/stories/documents/info_sheets/english/colour/Psoriatic%20arthritis.pdf Accessed 10 Nov 2009.