Psoriatic arthritis
Introduction
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of Arthritis that develops insome people withthe skin condition psoriasis . It typically causes affectedjoints to become inflamed (swollen), stiff and painful.
Likepsoriasis, psoriatic arthritis is a long-term condition that can get progressively worse. In severe cases, there's a risk of the joints becoming permanently damaged or deformed, which may require surgical treatment.
However, with an early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, it's possible to slow down the progression of the condition and minimise or prevent permanent damage to the joints.
This topic covers:
Symptoms
When to seek medical advice
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Managing related conditions
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 22 Nov 2016
Introduction
Read about psoriatic arthritis, a type of arthritis that develops in some people with the skin condition psoriasis
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis
The pain, swelling and stiffness associated with psoriatic arthritiscan affect any joint in the body, but the condition often affects the hands, feet, knees, neck, spine and elbows. The severity of t
When to seek medical advice
Seeyour GP if you experience persistent pain, swelling or stiffness in your joints even if you haven't been diagnosed with psoriasis. If you've been diagnosed with psoriasis, you should have check-u
Causes of psoriatic arthritis
Between one and two in every five people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis. It usually develops within 10 years of psoriasis being diagnosed, although some people may experience problems wit
Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis
If your doctor thinks you may have arthritis, they should refer youtoa rheumatologist (a specialist in joint conditions) for an assessment. The British Association of Dermatologists website has infor
Treating psoriatic arthritis
The main aims of treatment will be to relieve your symptoms, slow the progression of the condition and improve your quality of life. For most people, this involves trying a number of different medica
Managing related conditions
As with psoriasis and other types of inflammatory arthritis, you may be more likely to get some otherconditions such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) if you have psoriatic arthritis. CVD isthe termf
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