How To Treat And Deal With Psoriatic Arthritis

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Psoriatic arthritis is a complication of psoriasis. It is a form of arthritic joint disease associated with chronic skin inflammation, scaling, and fingernails abnormalities. Arthritis is the inflammation of any bone joints in the skeletal system.

Physicians recognize that the site of joint arthritis in psoriatic patients varies. Some shows evidence of inflammation in small skeletal joints such as in fingers of hands and toes of feet. Some others develop arthritis in large joints such us in knees and hips.

Individuals that are in 35-45 years of age are more predisposed to acquire arthritis from psoriasis. Males and females have equal risk in having this disease.

The exact cause of psoriasis has never been identified but genetic and immune disorders are known to be predisposing factors for the disease.

Psoriatic patients usually manifest skin abnormalities first before experiencing joint symptoms. Inflamed joints are usually painful, swollen, warm, and reddish in color. In rare cases, the inflammation of the fingers or toes involves the entire digits.

This causes a “sausage” appearance which is undesirable because the fingers and toes lose their function making it difficult to perform daily activities of life.

Individuals with psoriatic arthritis may experience joint stiffness which is extremely worst in the early morning because of the cool temperature. Arthritis in psoriasis patients can also cause inflammation of the spinal column, causing severe pain and stiffness of the neck, back, and buttocks.

Also, individuals with this illness can acquire tendinitis or the inflammation of the tendons. This makes the person to walk difficultly because of the presence of pain, especially if the Achilles tendon is the one affected. Inflammation can also take place in the thoracic ribs, and sternum or breastbone.

This makes a person have difficulty of breathing, as seen in persons with costochondritis.

Diagnostic tests that aid to confirm psoriasis are series of blood tests, rheumatoid factor, and arthrocentesis. In a blood test, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which is a marker of inflammation, is very high.

Rheumatoid factor is obtained to rule out rheumatoid arthritis. Atrhrocentesis is a procedure that is made to collect a sample fluid from large joints such as the knees. This is then analyzed to see the possibility of infections, inflammation, and other pathologic processes in the body.

X-rays are also done to see if there are bony erosions resulting from arthritis. One disease-modifying drug is methotrexate.

It is used to suppress or stop the hyperactive state of the immune system. It is also used to slow down the speedy production of skin cells, causing inflammation. Long-term use of methotrexate can lead to bone marrow depression and liver cirrhosis so regular laboratory monitoring is usually advised.

Antimalarial medication such as chloroquine acts as a chemotherapeutic drug that prevents further production of enormous skin cells. An ophthalmologist consult is needed since the drug is usually associated with damage of retina.

Some of the drugs that have been found effective for managing arthritis for psoriatic patients are sulfasalazine, tumor necrosis factor or TNF-blockers such as infliximab, adalimumab, and etanercept, and corticosteroids such as predisone.

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