Psoriatic arthritis symptoms
Experts can not predict exactly the occurrence of psoriatic arthritis, but it seems that between 10-30% of patients with cutaneous psoraizis develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis often affects Caucasians than other races. Unlike other auotimune diseases, men and women are affected equally.
Psoriatic arthritis occurs most often between 35-55 years, but may as well affect younger or older patients. Experts believe that psoriatic arthritis occurs most frequent approximately 10 years after the onset of skin psoriasis.
Diagnosis can be established quite late because the disease is asymptomatic for a long period, even if the pathogen evolves at joint.
In some cases dermatologists overlook a possible link between joint pain of psoriatic arthritis. If the disease is left untreated, evolution is serious and has debilitating character. Although there is currently no curative treatment of psoriatic arthritis, modern medicine help the patient to relieve symptoms. Treatment can thus stop or at least slow down disease progression, to remove pain and increase overall quality of life.
The exact cause of developing psoriatic arthritis is not yet completely known. Specialsitii integrates disease autoimmune disease class, specifically in spondilartropatiile seronegative. It occurs particularly in patients with HLA B 27 pedispozant field. Arthritis and psoriasis are both autoimmune diseases themselves.
Psoriatic arthritis symptoms are similar to those of other autoimmune diseases of rheumatologic nature and consist of:
- Joint stiffness;
- Local pain and swelling;
- Increased local temperature and redness of the area.
There are particular symptoms that call attention to etiology (especially if the patient has overt skin psoriasis):
- Joint pain manifests asymmetric in the small joints of the hand and leg or knee, elbow;
- Change in appearance of the classic joint .
- Nail changes: they become brittle, change their appearance, are discolored.
- Localized pain along the spine, from neck to sacroiliac joint. The patient is mobilized more slowly and loses flexibility, can not as easily turn his head and body.
Of course, a significant percentage of patients with psoriatic arthritis also have signs and symptoms of psoriasis itself.
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic evolution and may reach significant damage to joints. But loss of function can be reduced through proper and prompt treatment instituted. Experts advise patients to go to the doctor as soon as possible because if the process is diagnosed early, the evolution is stopped and optimal health is mantained.
The most common manifestations of psoriatic arthritis are:
- Arthralgia - joints involved are small joints of the hand or foot, and knee joints, hip joints or intervertebral. Patients experience intense pain that limits their ability to mobilize the joint. Pain has the debut morning, morning stiffness is present more than 30 minutes (a feature of inflammatory joint pain). Pain can be symmetrical or asymmetrical, depending on the type of arthritis.
- Nail changes - distal interphalangeal arthropathy when the inflammatory process is located very close to the nail bed. - Asthenia
- Back pain - occur in about 5% of patients. Can sometimes be so intense that patients avoid moving for a while.
- Conjunctivitis.
Factors incriminated in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis are:
1. Immunological factors - research has found that in patients with psoriasis immunoglobulin G level and immunoglobulin A level are much higher, while immunoglobulin M levels are normal or even low;
2. Autoantibodies - antinuclear autoantibodies , especially citokeratine and heat shock protein;
3. Infections - bacterial and some viral infections can exacerbate arthritis and psoriasis and evolution. Are incriminated as having an important pathogenic role.
4. Trauma - some studies have found a correlation between certain physical injuries occurring on skin and development of psoriatic arthritis;
Risk factors most often mentioned in the development of psoriatic arthritis are:
1. Diagnosing psoriasis skin - is the most important risk factor;
2. positive family history for arthritis or psoriasis;
3. Age, especially 30 to 50 years;
4. Gender - Although psoriatic arthritis affects both men and women, it was observed that men often develop ankylosing shape, while women have symmetrical form of arthritis.
