Psoriatic arthritis, or PsA, is a chronic, autoimmune form of arthritis that causes joint inflammation and occurs with the skin condition psoriasis. It can affect large or small joints. In less common cases where it affects the spine, it is known as a form of spondyloarthritis.
Studies have shown that there are certain autoimmune diseases that occur in people with psoriatic arthritis more frequently than in the general population. These include conditions such as celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid autoimmunity, and vitiligo.
Psoriatic arthritis occurs when your body's immune system attacks healthy cells and tissue. The immune response causes inflammation in your joints as well as overproduction of skin cells. It seems likely that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in this immune system response.
PsA, like psoriasis, is considered as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease with autoimmune and (auto)inflammatory features [19,20].
Even so, the pain and discomfort associated with psoriatic arthritis can be significant. A study published in 2015 in the journal PLoS One found that the overall pain, joint pain, and fatigue reported by psoriatic arthritis patients was significantly greater than that reported by people with rheumatoid arthritis.
If left untreated, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can cause permanent joint damage, which may be disabling. In addition to preventing irreversible joint damage, treating your PsA may also help reduce inflammation in your body that could lead to other diseases.
Psoriatic arthritis is closely linked to leukemia, lymphoma, and breast cancer. 21. Psoriasis is closely associated with leukemia, lymphoma, and non-melanoma skin cancers. Rheumatoid arthritis is closely linked to both lymphoma and lung cancer.
You'll probably think of skin issues first, but your eyes, heart, lungs, gastrointestinal (GI) tract (stomach and intestines), liver and kidneys may also be affected.
PsA occurs because your immune system is overactive, causing inflammation that can affect your joints, skin, and other parts of your body. It is a chronic, lifelong condition that, if left untreated, can lead to permanent joint damage and deformities.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the joints and entheses, where tendons and ligaments connect to bone. Like psoriasis, PsA is associated with related health conditions (comorbidities). It can start at any age and may affect children. The disease often appears between ages 30 and 50.
Psoriatic Arthritis Blood Test: Anti-Cyclic Citrullinated Peptide Test. Blood tests that look for the presence of anti-cylic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti-CCPs), which are inflammatory, are commonly used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, but anti-CCPs can also indicate psoriatic arthritis.
Avoid: Sugary Foods and Drinks
According to the Arthritis Foundation, refined sugars in soda, juice, chocolate, desserts, and other baked goods likely fuel inflammation. Plus, too much sugar leads to weight gain, which can further tax your joints and increase your risk for heart disease and stroke, cautions Davis.
If you have psoriatic arthritis (PsA), your doctor might recommend immunosuppressants, which are medications that calm your immune system. These drugs can be very helpful for managing the joint pain and rashes caused by PsA.
Affecting the skin and joints, both lupus and psoriatic arthritis are considered autoimmune conditions. They are separate conditions even though they do share some similar symptoms. Because their disease processes are similar, a person can have both conditions.
Heart Disease
With PsA, you're more likely to have heart problems than other people. If you're overweight or have diabetes, your risk is even higher. Some doctors believe the link between PsA and heart disease is inflammation. It may cause fatty deposits called plaques to build up inside your blood vessels.
Psoriasis doesn't affect just your skin. It often leads to psoriatic arthritis, which can affect any part of your body, including your brain and spine. Neurological conditions that have been linked to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis include: Migraines.
Blood tests can help diagnose psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rule out other possible causes of joint pain and stiffness, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Examples include tests for c-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor. Doctors do not rely solely on blood tests to diagnose PsA.
Joints in the arms, legs, hands, and feet may also be involved. The most severe and least common type of psoriatic arthritis is called arthritis mutilans.
Symmetric Psoriatic Arthritis
This is the most common type, and affects about half of people with the condition. It strikes matching pairs of joints.
Late-Stage or Advanced Psoriatic Arthritis
PsA is considered advanced or late-stage “when patients have a lot of damage due to erosion and the fusion of joints,” says Dr. Mikulik. Inflammation causes bone tissue to break down, leading to deformity and disability.
Psoriatic arthritis tends to be much more persistent when untreated. It can cause, as I said, joint destruction when untreated. But some people do experience significant flares of skin and joint disease, as well as periods where they are not in as much pain. Fibromyalgia also has flares and remission.
It most often starts in those aged 15 to 30, with psoriatic arthritis commonly developing between the ages of 25 and 50. However, both conditions can start at any age. In about one in five cases, joint problems are diagnosed before any obvious signs of psoriasis.
“Some people describe fatigue like their battery running out; some people talk about exhaustion before the end of day — like by 3 p.m. you can't go on without a nap or drinking excessive amounts coffee, which doesn't work; and some people talk about not being able to mount energy [for everyday activities],” she says.