What is Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that generally affects people with a history of psoriasis or a biological family history of psoriasis.

Arthritis is a common disease that causes inflammation in the joints and surrounding tissues. Psoriasis causes inflammation in the skin. The patches of discolored, thicker, scaly skin are called plaques. Those thick, scaly areas make your fingernails and toenails thicken and appear flaky or pitted, covered in tiny indentations.

Arthritis and psoriasis are diseases caused by autoimmune conditions. Autoimmune diseases essentially refer to a condition whereby your body's immune system attacks your body mistakenly, failing to protect it in any way. In this case, psoriatic arthritis occurs when a patient suffers from symptoms of psoriasis on their skin and joint inflammation.

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis on your skin and joints often come and go in periods called flares. A doctor or other health care provider can recommend treatments to help relieve your symptoms during a flare.

See a doctor if you develop new skin symptoms or experience pain, swelling, or stiffness in your joints.

How common is it?

Psoriatic arthritis affects less than 1 percent of all humans, but its prevalence is much greater in those with psoriasis. About 30 percent of the population affected by psoriasis develop some form of psoriatic arthritis during their lifetime.

There are five specific types of psoriatic arthritis.

A healthcare provider may classify psoriatic arthritis based on the side of your body where you feel the symptoms or what joints it affects. The five types of psoriatic arthritis are divided into the following:

Distal interphalangeal predominant psoriatic arthritis: This involves the joints close to the end of your fingers and toes, also known as phalanges. It is the most common kind of psoriatic arthritis that affects your fingernails and toenails. Your nails may become discolored, flaky, or pitted.
Symmetric polyarthritis is an entangle when five or more joints are involved simultaneously. Symmetric polyarthritis affects the same joints on both sides of your body, such as both knees and both elbows. It is one of the most common types of psoriatic arthritis.
Asymmetric oligoarticular psoriatic arthritis affects two to four joints on one side of the body. One knee and one elbow are a possible example. It is the other most common variant of psoriatic arthritis (symmetric polyarthritis being the first).
Spondylitis: Your backbone consists of 33 bones called vertebrae. The plural form of vertebra is vertebrae. Spondylitis inflames and gives rise to other symptoms in the jointed spaces where these vertebrae come together. It can also cause soreness in your hips and shoulders.
Arthritis mutilans: This causes very bad symptoms in your hands and feet. The inflammation is often intense enough to cause loss of bone (osteolysis). It's the rarest type of psoriatic arthritis. Fewer than 5 percent of all people with psoriatic arthritis have arthritis mutilans.

What are Psoriatic Arthritis symptoms?

Psoriatic arthritis can involve any joint in your body. Your symptoms can be mild, involving only a little pain and stiffness, with only a few signs of psoriasis on your skin. More severe psoriatic arthritis flares mean you can't move your joints or can't use your joints the way you normally do and result in larger patches of psoriasis on your skin.

The most common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include:

Joint pain.
Stiffness.
Redness or discoloration near your affected joints.
Pain or tenderness at areas where tendons and ligaments attach to the bones, for example, the Achilles tendon.
Swelling of your fingers and toes, sometimes referred to as dactylitis or "sausage fingers."
Psoriasis rash; these are silver or gray-colored scaly patches of skin that develop on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back.
Nail psoriasis symptoms that may include discoloration or pitting of the fingernails or toenails.
Fatigue.

What causes psoriatic arthritis?

Experts do not know what causes psoriatic arthritis. However, some research has found people with psoriatic arthritis share similar genetic mutations. Experts cannot tell with certainty whether it is these changes in your genes that brings you the disease of psoriatic arthritis or it comes subsequent to acquiring the disease.

Around 40 percent of people who have psoriatic arthritis have a relative who also has it. That may make it an inherited condition in which biological parents pass the condition along to their offspring.

Let your healthcare provider know if a member of your family has psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.

What is the prognosis for Psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis can strike anyone. The condition typically starts in people between 30 and 50.

The psoriasis typically starts in the teenage years or early twenties, while the symptoms in the joints tend to develop much later in most individuals with psoriatic arthritis.

What are some of the complications of psoriatic arthritis?

Individuals with psoriatic arthritis are also at a higher risk of developing other conditions. These include:

High blood pressure (hypertension).
High cholesterol, or hyperlipemia.
Obesity.
Diabetes.
Depression.
Anemia.
Muscle weakness.
Pain or stiffness in the joints may make it painful or difficult for you to use them. This may limit your ability to exercise appropriately.

Discuss low-impact exercises with a health care provider that put less pressure on the joints. Good ways to work out without stressing the joints include yoga, walking, or aqua therapy.

How is psoriatic arthritis diagnosed?

A health care provider will diagnose psoriatic arthritis using a physical exam and some tests. Your provider will ask you to give details of your symptoms and examine your skin and joints.

You will probably be seen by a rheumatologist, who is a specialty provider who addresses musculoskeletal conditions, autoimmune diseases, and inflammatory diseases. A dermatologist is a doctor who cares for your skin; he or she is usually the one who diagnoses psoriasis and gives the therapeutic plan.

There is no specific test that can support in diagnosing psoriatic arthritis, but the provider can use certain tests to rule out other causes of your symptoms. For example, they may use certain blood tests to check for infections. Imaging tests give pictures of your joints to reveal you damage or inflammation. You will require one or a few imaging tests: X-rays, MRI, CT scan, and Ultrasound.

How psoriatic arthritis is treated?

Your doctor can prescribe medications to alleviate symptoms. The treatments given will depend on which of the following apply to you:

The affected joints.
How severely you are symptomatic.

How much do your symptoms disrupt or impact your daily functions?

Some of the most common treatments for psoriatic arthritis include the following:

You can use nonprescription anti-inflammatory medicine, such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen.
Applying cold or warm therapy
Corticosteroids.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Physically or occupational therapy

Psoriatic arthritis surgery:

Surgery is not necessary for a person who suffers from psoriatic arthritis unless the bones have been damaged and, due to the disease, bone has been lost. If it is the case, you'll probably need arthroplasty, an arthroplasty (a joint replacement). How much surgery you may need and the expectation is indicated by your provider or a surgeon.

How can you prevent psoriatic arthritis?

Because experts do not yet know what causes psoriatic arthritis, you cannot prevent it. You can reduce your risk for all types of arthritis by:

Not using tobacco products.
Eating and exercising in ways that are healthy for you.
Participating in low-impact, non-weight-bearing exercise.
Always wear appropriate protective equipment when doing an activity that may injure your joints.

What might happen to me if I have psoriatic arthritis?

You can expect to spend years living with your symptoms (even the rest of your life). For some, long periods pass before the flares hit again, but as of now, there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis.

It can happen without warning. This can be very challenging. Over time, you may learn the early signs that a flare is on its way and be able to take control of symptoms before they worsen. See a healthcare provider if you think your symptoms are worsening or your current therapies aren't managing your symptoms appropriately.

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How often should I see my healthcare provider?

A health care provider should be visited if new rashes or other symptoms develop on the skin or joint pain. A person should see their healthcare provider if his/her psoriatic arthritis symptoms are changing, worsening, or flaring more often.

Why Choose Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital for Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment in Lucknow, India?

Tender Palm Super-Speciality Hospital offers advanced Psoriatic Arthritis treatment in Lucknow, India, at an affordable cost. We have a team of experienced rheumatologists and dermatologists who provide accurate diagnosis with advanced imaging and clinical evaluation, personalized medical care, and both biological therapy and medication-based treatment options. Our Rheumatology and Dermatology team has decades of experience in successfully treating Psoriatic Arthritis in Lucknow, India.