Highlights
- To answer the question “what is psoriatic arthritis?,” we must clarify what psoriasis is.
- More than 30% of psoriasis sufferers develop psoriatic arthritis.
- An autoimmune disease affecting the joints, psoriatic arthritis may cause unexpected complications.
- While they can’t cure it, doctors can manage the condition with medications.
- Find the lowest price for psoriatic arthritis medications with BidRx.
Psoriasis affects over 3% of the U.S. population, and of those, 30% develop psoriatic arthritis. Both conditions are caused by an overactive immune system. Medications can help manage the symptoms of this sometimes-debilitating condition. BidRx can help you find the lowest prices for psoriatic arthritis medications.
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is one of several forms of arthritis, an inflammatory joint disease that affects the lining, cartilage, ligaments, and tendons of the joints. It is linked to psoriasis, a chronic disease of the skin and nails. Around 30% of people who have psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis usually strikes at a younger age than rheumatoid arthritis — usually between 30 and 50 — while RA usually develops between ages 40 and 60.
Other differences between the two diseases include:
- Psoriatic arthritis tends to affect fewer joints than rheumatoid arthritis and can affect the back and pelvis, unlike RA.
- PsA is often asymmetrical, affecting only one side of the body, while RA generally affects the same joints on both sides.
- PsA often involves swollen fingers and foot pain.
- PsA can cause pitting and flaking of the nails.
What Is Psoriasis?
Psoriasis is a condition where the body produces skin cells too quickly and doesn’t shed them normally. This causes skin cells to build up on the skin surface, forming plaques and scales to form.
If you have areas on your body where your skin is irritated, itchy, and peels off in white scales, you may have psoriasis. If you have psoriasis, you have a 30% chance of developing psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriasis often precedes psoriatic arthritis and may be one of its causes. Though we don’t know exactly why, we do know that the overactive immune response causes inflammation in the body, which facilitates both psoriasis and arthritis.
Types of Psoriatic Arthritis
There are several types of psoriatic arthritis. They include:
- Psoriatic spondylitis. This type attacks the backbone, most often at the lower back.
- Symmetrical polyarthritis. This condition affects the same joints on both sides of the body, similar to rheumatoid arthritis.
- Asymmetrical arthritis. Asymmetrical arthritis affects the joints in the feet and hands, typically on one side of the body. It can also cause sausage-like swelling of the fingers and will occasionally affect larger joints, like the knee.
- Arthritis mutilans. This condition attacks and irreversibly deforms the joints.
- Arthritis of the small joints. This version typically limits itself to the joints of the fingers and toes and is often accompanied by nail changes.
Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
Having severe psoriasis does not mean you will develop similarly aggressive PsA. People without signs of psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis.
You may have psoriatic arthritis if you notice any of the following symptoms:
- Swelling, inflammation, stiffness, or pain in the affected joints
- Pain and redness of the eye
- Tender or swollen tendons
- Stiffness and tiredness in the morning
- Fatigue
- Fingers and toes that swell to look like sausages
- Permanently deformed joints, often in the fingers
Don’t try to self-diagnose based on these symptoms. If you suspect you may have psoriatic arthritis, seek medical attention and advice.
Psoriatic Arthritis Causes
We don’t know precisely what causes PsA. We do know, however, that genetics, the environment, and the immune system all play a role in it.
Psoriasis is not contagious, so it does not spread from one person to another. Diverse triggers can cause a flare of the disease. These include:
- Stress
- The weather
- Skin injuries
- Infections
- Illness
Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosis
We don’t have a specific test we can use to diagnose psoriatic arthritis. Sometimes a physical exam is all that’s needed. If you have psoriasis, you are much more likely to have psoriatic arthritis as well.
In the absence of psoriasis, doctors have a few tools they can use, including joint X-rays, other imaging techniques, and blood tests.
With blood tests, doctors look for two possible clues. Faster-than-normal red blood cell sedimentation means that inflammation is present in the body. Additionally, high uric acid levels in the blood often accompany psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic Arthritis Risk Factors
Because nearly one-third of people with psoriasis develop PsA, we can consider psoriasis the single biggest risk factor for PsA.
Having a parent or sibling with PsA means that you may be genetically susceptible to the disease.
Age can also be a PsA risk factor, although the disease can occur at any age. Those between 30 and 50 are most likely to develop PsA.
Because there’s a strong link between psoriasis and PsA, we can consider psoriasis risk factors to also be risk factors for PsA.
Psoriatic Arthritis Complications
Aggressive forms of psoriatic arthritis can overwhelm the body with inflammation. In a small percentage of cases, psoriasis may degenerate into its most severe form, arthritis mutilans.
This variant of the disease is painful, debilitating, and deforming. Frequently affecting the joints and bones of the fingers, arthritis mutilans can cause permanent disability.
In addition to the pain and suffering it causes directly, psoriatic arthritis predisposes people to a number of related conditions, including:
- Metabolic syndrome (which can include high blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol)
- Obesity
- Depression
- Sleep apnea
- Cancer
- Liver disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Lung diseases
Uveitis, or inflammation of the eye, is a relatively common complication of PsA. It causes blurry vision, redness, pain, and irritation. In extreme cases, it can result in vision loss. Seek medical attention as soon as possible if you notice these symptoms.
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment
Doctors can’t cure PsA, but they can manage and control it with drugs. The right medication can make a huge difference in the quality of life of a PsA sufferer.
The treatment method depends on the age of the patient and the severity/progression of the disease. Those with early PsA may find it easy to manage their symptoms with relatively common and inexpensive drugs. More advanced PsA may require more advanced and expensive medication or even surgery.
Doctors may prescribe:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the symptoms
- Biologic drugs and corticosteroids to keep the inflammation under control
- Immunosuppressive medications to send the disease into remission
- Minerals and vitamins to support bone health and slow the progression of the disease
In some cases, doctors may recommend:
- UV light treatment
- Physical exercise
- Heat and cold treatment
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Splints
- Surgery
Psoriatic arthritis medication can significantly improve your quality of life if you suffer from this disease. Drugs can manage symptoms, reduce inflammation, and stop or slow the progression of the disease. Depending on which drugs you need, PsA medication can be expensive.
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