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Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis often seen in people diagnosed with psoriasis, which is an immune-mediated condition that causes skin cells to grow at a rapid pace creating red, scaly patches of skin.
The joint inflammation occurs when your immune system attacks the healthy tissue in your joints. Researchers theorize that the abnormal immune response may be a hereditary disease triggered by an environmental factor, such as an infection. You can develop the chronic arthritic condition at any age, but it often occurs between 30 and 50.
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis often seen in people diagnosed with psoriasis, which is an immune-mediated condition that causes skin cells to grow at a rapid pace creating red, scaly patches of skin.
The joint inflammation occurs when your immune system attacks the healthy tissue in your joints. Researchers theorize that the abnormal immune response may be a hereditary disease triggered by an environmental factor, such as an infection. You can develop the chronic arthritic condition at any age, but it often occurs between 30 and 50.
Severe swelling, often giving fingers and toes a sausage-like appearance.
Changes in joint shape and structure, leading to limited mobility.
Inflammation in tendons and ligaments, causing discomfort while walking or standing.
Stiffness and pain in the spine due to inflammation in the joints of the back.
The team at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center performs a thorough evaluation to diagnose psoriatic arthritis. This includes reviewing your symptoms, medical and family history, and conducting a physical examination to check for joint swelling, tenderness, and skin changes. To confirm the diagnosis and rule out other conditions, they may recommend diagnostic tests such as blood tests to detect inflammation, X-rays or MRI scans to assess joint damage, ultrasounds to examine soft tissues, or CT scans for a more detailed view of affected areas.
Treatment for your psoriatic arthritis depends on the severity of your symptoms and the degree of joint damage. For mild symptoms, you may only need nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If your symptoms fail to improve with NSAIDs, the team may prescribe disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or immunosuppressants to slow down the progression of your disease.
The experts at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center may also recommend biologic agents, which are a newer class of DMARDs that target specific parts of your immune system responsible for the inflammation. The team may also suggest the oral medication, apremilast, which decreases the activity of the enzyme responsible for cellular inflammation.
