Psoriatic Arthritis: Early Signs and Treatments

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory joint disease that about 30 percent of those with psoriasis develop. It’s caused by an excessive inflammatory response in the tendons and connective tissues of the joints. Currently, the condition affects 1 to 2 percent of the United States population.

Though psoriatic arthritis can develop at any point during a person’s life, onset most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. While there is no known cure for the autoimmune disease, it can be managed with treatment. If you or someone you know has this type of arthritis, search online and read on to learn more.

Specific manifestations of the condition include:

• Spondylitis – Inflammation and stiffness of the spinal joints
• Enthesitis – Inflammation of the area where ligaments/tendons insert into the bone
• Dactylitis – Inflammation of finger and toes

Early Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis, though it tends to affect fewer joints. Both diseases are characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the joints. This condition results in pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The joints most commonly affected by psoriatic arthritis are the fingers and toes, but it can also crop up in the ankles, knees, wrists, elbows, and neck.

Additionally, PsA can cause:

• Stiffness and reduced range of motion
• Swollen fingers and toes
• Joint deformity
• Fatigue
• Skin issues related to psoriasis, such as itchy, red patches or a silvery buildup of skin plaques

Causes and Risk Factors

Researchers aren’t sure what causes PsA, but believe that there’s both a genetic and environmental factor to developing it. It occurs equally in men and women, but is substantially more likely to develop in Caucasian people.

Sufferers can manage the condition by avoiding certain environmental triggers which are thought to worsen flare-ups. Common triggers include:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Stress
• Cold weather
• Certain medications
• Eating excessive amounts of fat and sugar
• Certain traumas, such as injury, infections requiring antibiotics, and recurrent oral ulcers

Treatment Options

Unfortunately, there is no known cure for psoriatic arthritis, so the focus is on management of the disease. The pain, swelling and stiffness associated with the condition can be managed with a personalized treatment plan including one of more of these common treatment options:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that help with pain and inflammation.
• Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) that block inflammation
• Immunosuppressants, which can help control the body’s immune system response.
• TNF-Alpha Inhibitors, which can fight some inflammatory substances within the body that lead to other health conditions.
• PDE4 Inhibitors, which can help balance inflammatory signals in the body and soothe an overactive immune response.

In most cases, a combination of therapies are used to manage the disease and reduce symptoms throughout a patient’s life. If you’re concerned that you may have or be at risk for PsA, make an appointment with your physician to test for other possible reasons for your symptoms and devise a personal treatment plan.