Psoriatic arthritis

[Couch Potatoe]

Psoriatic arthritis is a spondyloarthritis and a form of joint inflammation that occurs in some people who have psoriasis of the skin or nails.

Joint inflammation can develop in people who have psoriasis.
Joints commonly involved include the hips, knees, fingers, and toes.
The diagnosis is based on symptoms.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (such as methotrexate ), cyclosporine , and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors can help.

Psoriatic arthritis resembles rheumatoid arthritis but does not produce the antibodies characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis occurs in about 30% of people with psoriasis (a skin condition causing flare-ups of red, scaly rashes and thickened, pitted nails). People with a certain gene (HLA-B27) and those who have affected family members are at increased risk of psoriatic arthritis of the spine. The cause of psoriatic arthritis is unknown.