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Psoriatic Arthropathy

Background

Psoriatic Arthropathy is a form of arthritis which accompanies the skin disorder psoriasis and which is distinct from rheumatoid arthritis and can at times closely resemble it. It may be found in people with a family history of psoriasis even if they do not currently have any skin problems themselves. There is an increased likelihood of developing the arthritis if other members of the family with psoriasis have it too. There is more than one variety:

  • Peripheral type Psoriatic Arthropathy which affects mostly the small joints of the hands and feet and is commonly associated with psoriatic changes in the nails.
  • Psoriatic spondylitis in which the spine and sacroiliac joints are affected and which closely resembles ankylosing spondylitis. As in that condition the patient more often than not is of the B27 tissue type.
  • A mixed pattern of spondylitis and arthritis of large or small joints, a combination in one individual of the two forms described above.
  • A severe and fortunately rare form of psoriatic arthritis sometimes called arthritis mutilans because of the damage done to the joints and which affects large and small joints severely and leads to disability of varying degree.

Because rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis are both common diseases it will happen from time to time that a patient has both. By definition the arthritis of psoriasis in all its forms is negative for rheumatoid factor and so cases with positive tests are not included in the remit of psoriatic arthropathy. In the early stages it may be difficult to decide how to characterise the disease of such patients and the Alliance will offer support and advice in such cases.

Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis View Inheritance patterns and prenatal diagnosis

Medical text written March 1995 by Dr A G White. Last updated January 2002 by Dr A G White, Consultant Rheumatologist, Royal Free Hospital, London, UK.

 

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