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- Psoriatic arthritis is a long-term inflammatory disease affecting joints, tendon attachment sites and sometimes the spine, associated with psoriasis.
- Joint symptoms can precede skin psoriasis; subtle patches on the scalp, navel, cleft between the buttocks or nails are important.
- Early treatment can reduce pain and help prevent permanent joint damage.
- Symptoms include morning stiffness, swollen joints, a whole sausage-shaped finger or toe, heel pain and nail pits.
- Diagnosis is based on the pattern, examination and ruling out other causes; there is no single decisive blood test.
- Treatment combines activity, addressing risk factors, symptom-relieving medicines and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
- Biological or targeted medicines are chosen according to the joints, skin, bowels, eyes, other illnesses and preferences.
- A red, painful eye, a hot, red joint with fever or sudden neurological loss of function needs prompt assessment.
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