Psoriatic arthritis, commonly known as psoriasis or psoriasis, is a type of chronic arthritis that can occur in the joints of people with psoriasis, a disease that normally affects the skin, characterized by the appearance of reddish patches that bite and peel.
The main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, in addition to the presence of red spots on the skin, common in psoriasis, include swelling of the joints, deformity of the joints and difficulty moving them.
- Psoriatic arthritis can occur at any age.
- But it is more common in adults between the ages of 30 and 50.
- And nearly 30% of people diagnosed with skin psoriasis develop this type of arthritis.
- See what the first signs of psoriasis are.
Signs and symptoms that may indicate psoriatic arthritis include
Often, the first signs of this type of arthritis are pain and difficulty moving joints, especially hands, without the need for swelling or the presence of spots on the skin. For example, people with psoriasis with symptoms related to joint problems should consult a psoriasis doctor to confirm the diagnosis and begin the most appropriate treatment.
Diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is usually done by a medical history evaluation, observation of skin lesions caused by psoriasis, and an x-ray exam to help confirm arthritis.
However, the rheumatoid factor test is also important for differentiating it from rheumatoid arthritis, and to indicate that arthritis may be a consequence of psoriasis is whether the rheumatoid factor is negative and arthritis symptoms are present. If the result of rheumatoid factor is positive, it usually indicates that it is rheumatoid arthritis, not related to psoriasis.
There are 5 main types of psoriatic arthritis
The rheumatologist will be able to identify the type of arthritis the person has and indicate the best treatment for each case.
Psoriasis has not yet healed, so treatment aims to reduce and control symptoms and it is important to prevent the disease from getting worse.
For example, one of the first treatment guidelines is to make lifestyle changes that help prevent risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure or diabetes, including quitting smoking and other medications, as well as light and regular meal exercise. Balanced.
In addition, other treatment options include
The main drugs used for the disease are nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen or naproxen, which allow an improvement of the signs and symptoms of the disease in the short term, alleviating discomfort.
In the most severe cases, or when anti-inflammatory therapy fails, other medicines, mainly corticosteroids and disease progression modifiers, such as sulfasalazine, methotrexate or ciclosporin, may be used.
Psoriatic arthritis surgery is indicated when the disease is very aggressive and causes joint damage. The goal of surgery is to improve or replace the injured joint, thus improving the quality of life.
Physical therapy is another very important part of treatment, as there are exercises that can be performed to help improve joint movements, alleviate symptoms of tendinitis and improve overall quality of life. Find out what types of exercises can help you.
Thus, ideally the treatment is done with a multidisciplinary team, formed by the medical team, with a rheumatologist, an orthopedist and a GP, as well as a physiotherapist, a psychologist and other health professionals who can contribute to the improvement of the quality of life.