Psoriatic arthritis: an inflammatory rheumatic disease
Psoriatic arthritis is a rheumatic inflammatory disease that can affect people with psoriasis. Do you have psoriatic arthritis? If so, you may experience joint inflammation. When you have joint inflammation, your joints feel stiff and painful. The inflammation can occur in any joint, for example in the hands or feet.
The onset of psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is equally common in both men and women. The condition usually manifests between the ages of 20 and 30, but can also develop at other ages. Usually, a person first develops psoriasis, with psoriatic arthritis developing later. However, this is not always the case. Psoriasis is a hereditary skin condition and can develop at any age, but in most people it occurs between the ages of 16 and 21 or between 57 and 60. In people with psoriasis, skin cell renewal occurs much more rapidly than in others. Psoriatic arthritis is partly hereditary, but an unhealthy lifestyle also contributes to its development and can exacerbate the symptoms.
In psoriatic arthritis, the immune system goes haywire, causing the body’s own cells to be mistaken for harmful invaders. The immune system tries to fight off these invaders, which triggers the release of certain antibodies, leading to inflammation in the joints, tendons, muscles or organs.
In short, the immune system turns against your own body. That is why psoriatic arthritis is regarded as an ‘autoimmune disorder’.
What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?
The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are usually somewhat less pronounced than those of rheumatoid arthritis. The following symptoms are common:
- Morning stiffness
- Excessive tiredness
- Painful and inflamed joints (usually in the arms or legs)
- Back pain
- Painful swelling in the joints of the fingers/toes
- Affected joints may have reduced mobility
- Painful tendon insertions
- Skin condition (flaky skin, redness, itching, abnormal nails)
- Increased risk of cardiovascular disease and depression
- The inflammation also causes damage to the joint. This can lead to the joint becoming deformed and to a loss of function.
What is the course of psoriatic arthritis?
A doctor can diagnose psoriatic arthritis. This involves checking for possible swelling in the joints and pain around the tendon insertions, and examining the skin for redness or flaking. In addition, a blood test is carried out and X-rays are taken.
In psoriatic arthritis, periods of severe symptoms alternate with periods in which the condition spontaneously improves. Medication plays an important role in reducing joint inflammation; examples of this include:
- NSAIDs (anti-inflammatory painkillers)
- csDmards (traditional anti-rheumatic drugs)
- bDmards (biological medication)
- Corticosteroids
In addition, a healthy lifestyle helps to reduce inflammation. For example, not smoking, eating healthily, exercising and managing stress.
