Psoriasis and Arthritis

Psoriasis arthritis, or psoriatic arthritis is a chronic disease that involves inflammation of both the skin and joints.

Psoriatic arthritis generally begins between age 30 and 50. Men and women are equally affected by psoriasis arthritis. The skin disease (psoriasis) and the joint disease (arthritis) often appear separately. Psoriasis precedes the arthritis in nearly 80% of patients, although some patients report having arthritis for more than twenty years before psoriasis appeared! Conversely, patients can have psoriasis for more than twenty years prior to development of arthritis.

Psoriasis arthritis can also cause inflammation in areas away from the joints, and other than the skin. Eyes, heart, lungs, and kidneys can be involved.

Psoriasis arthritis shares many features with several other arthritic conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis (formerly known as Reiter syndrome), and arthritis associated with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. All of these conditions can cause inflammation in the spine and other joints, and the eyes, skin, mouth, and various organs.

Psoriasis arthritis can develop in a number of ways. Sometimes it develops slowly, and the symptoms are fairly mild. But it can also develop quickly and be severe. Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of psoriasis arthritis can help prevent or limit extensive joint damage that occurs in later stages of the disease.

Symptoms of psoriasis arthritis usually include some or all of the following:

Generalized fatigue
Tenderness, pain and swelling over tendons
Swollen fingers and toes
Stiffness, pain, throbbing, swelling and tenderness in one or more joints
A reduced range of motion
Morning stiffness and tiredness
Nail changes. The nail may separates from the nail bed and/or becomes pitted and mimics fungus infections.
Redness and pain of the eye, such as conjunctivitis

Psoriasis arthritis can develop in a joint following an injury, and in fact it may mimic a cartilage tear. Tendonitis and bursitis may be prominent. Swollen fingers can take a "sausage-like" appearance.

There are five types of psoriatic arthritis: symmetric, asymmetric, distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP), spondylitis and arthritis mutilans. Symmetric arthritis.