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Many people consider psoriasis a skin disease; however
its primary cause is a malfunctioning immune system. And it doesn't just
affect the skin. Many of its worst effects can come from psoriatic
arthritis, an inflammatory condition that is associated with psoriasis.
Psoriatic arthritis have symptoms like other types of arthritis; stiffness,
painful and swollen joints, and it can be serious. Arthritic and skin
flare-ups tend to occur at the same time. Untreated, psoriatic arthritis can
cause bone loss and deformation of the joints.
Although patients with psoriatic arthritis tend to have mild skin
manifestations, the disease is systemic which means that if affects the whole
of the body. The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis often appear years after
the first signs of psoriasis on the skin, but sometimes arthritis symptoms
develop before the lesions. Since it can be a long time before the
appearances of the symptoms, psoriatic arthritis can be hard to detect.
Psoriatic arhtirits is most common in adults between the ages of 30 and 50,
but it can develop in anyone, even children. Psoriatic arthritis only
affects people with psoriasis.
There are five different forms of psoriatic arthritis:
Asymmetric Arthritis which makes up about 70% of all cases of psoriatic
arthritis, and often affects one or few joints, like knee, hip or fingers.
Although more often mild, sometimes it can be debilitating. Inflamed joints
may be red and hands and feet maybe swollen.
Symmetric Arthritis is the second most common forms of psoriatic arthritis,
and often causes symptoms in the same joints on both sides of the body. The
symptoms are the same as rheumatoid arthritis and can also cause permanent
damage.
Distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP) affects the joints close to the
fingernails and toenails, and the nails are often affected too, but is a
less common form of psoriatic arthritis.
Spondylitis is a form of psoriatic arthritis that makes movement painful
especially in the neck and back. The spinal column can also become inflamed.
Arthritis Mutilans this form of psoriatic arthritis is seldom but is often
destructive. It can result in permanent deformity, often affecting the hands
and feet and sometimes the back and neck.
Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis
Symptoms are similar to those other kinds of arthritis, that include:
stiffness of the joints, pain and swelling in the joints, irritation and
redness of the eye. In additon usual symptoms of psoriasis such as red,
scaly patches of the skin may also appear.
Treatments of Psoriatic Arthritis
If you have psoriatic arthritis, you should have a treatment that will work
on both the joint pain and the skin lesions caused by the condition. Some
common treatments include:
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are a common class of
painkiller medications that are usually the first choice for treating
psoriatic arthritis. These inlcudes pain killer drugs such as aspirin and
ibuprofen, others available by prescription.
Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) are more powerful medicines
that are used for severe cases of psoriatic arthritis. Methotrexate and
cyclosporine are both powerful drugs that help fight psoriasis by supressing
the immune system. They may also cause side effects and increase the risk of
infection.
Biologic therapy they work by targeting the immune system response that
causes the symptoms of psoriasis, preventing the joints from becoming
inflamed. So far, two drugs have been approved to treat psoriatic arthritis,
Enbrel and Remicade. The evidence so far shows that they may be safer than
many systemic medications. One drawback to the biologic medications is that
they have to be injected or administered intravenously, and may also
increase the risk of susceptibility to infections of the immune system.
Psoriatic arthritis can be upsetting and potentially disabling. Seeing the
doctor early and planning on the treatment is the key to prevent worst
symptoms from developing. Never ignore chronic aches and pains in your
joints, especially if you have already been diagnosed with psoriasis,
because damage to the joint and bones can happen quickly.
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