Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory form of arthritis that affects some people who have psoriasis, an autoimmune disease that causes raised, red, scaly patches to appear on the skin. Up to 30 percent of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

Most people develop psoriasis first and are later diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, but the joint problems can sometimes begin before skin lesions appear. In 85 percent of patients, psoriasis occurs before joint disease. If you have been diagnosed with psoriasis, it is important to tell your dermatologist if you have any aches and pains.

Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. They can affect any part of your body, including your fingertips and spine, and can range from relatively mild to severe. Nail changes and overall fatigue are also symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are chronic diseases that get worse over time, and disease flares may alternate with periods of remission.

There is little connection between your psoriasis severity and psoriatic arthritis severity. Having a severe case of psoriasis does not necessarily mean a person will have a severe case of psoriatic arthritis. A person could have few skin lesions, but have many joints affected by the arthritis.

There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, and treatment focuses on controlling pain, inflammation, and joint damage.

Psoriatic arthritis occurs when the body's immune system begins to attack healthy cells and tissue. The abnormal immune response causes inflammation in your joints as well as overproduction of skin cells.

It is not clear why the immune system turns on healthy tissue, but both genetic and environmental factors likely play a role. Many people with psoriatic arthritis have a family history of either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Researchers have discovered certain genetic markers that appear to be associated with psoriatic arthritis.

Physical trauma or something in the environment, such as a viral or bacterial infection, may trigger psoriatic arthritis in people with an inherited tendency.

See your doctor for joint pain, swelling, or stiffness along with psoriasis or nail changes. Early treatment helps prevent lasting joint damage.