Psoriasis Arthritis - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Psoriasis arthritis is an inflammation of the joints that attacks psoriasis sufferers. Although most cases of psoriatic arthritis begin with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis can also occur before psoriasis symptoms appear

Psoriasis is a condition when skin cells are formed excessively and very quickly. While arthritis is inflammation in one or more joints of the body. In other words, psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis experienced by psoriasis sufferers.

Causes and Risk Factors of Psoriasis Arthritis

Psoriasis arthritis occurs when the immune system attacks he althy body cells (autoimmune disease) causing inflammation in the joints and excessive skin cell production.

It is not yet known what triggers this condition, but this condition is thought to be related to heredity and environmental factors. Some of the factors that can increase the risk of psoriatic arthritis are:

• Suffering from psoriasis
• Viral infection or bacterial infection
• Age 30–50 years
• Has a family suffering from psoriatic arthritis

Symptoms of Psoriasis Arthritis

Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis develop in the long term and may worsen over time. The severity of symptoms that appear in each patient can be different.

Some of the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are:

• Joints feel stiff and get worse in the morning
• Swelling and joint pain

The pain can be felt in the fingers, toes, soles of the feet, heels, buttocks, back, or neck. Symptoms can occur on one or both sides of the body, and can affect several joints at once. Symptoms can come and go, that is, get better for a while then get worse.

When to see a doctor

Psoriasis arthritis can cause severe joint damage if not treated immediately. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor if you suffer from psoriasis and experience symptoms of arthritis.

Psoriasis Arthritis Diagnosis

There are no tests that can specifically confirm psoriatic arthritis. However, the doctor may run the following tests to rule out other conditions, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis, including:

• Scan with X-ray or MRI
• Test for antibodies and uric acid levels by taking a blood sample
• Joint examination

Another test that can be done is taking a skin sample (biopsy), to confirm the occurrence of psoriasis, if psoriasis has never been detected.

Psoriasis Arthritis Treatment

Psoriatic arthritis treatment aims to overcome the inflammation that triggers pain and swelling in the joints, and prevent paralysis. The methods used include:

Drugs

A number of drugs used to treat psoriatic arthritis are:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen and naproxen, to reduce pain and inflammation
• Corticosteroids, such as methylprednisolone or dexamethasone, to reduce inflammation
• Immunosuppressive drugs, such as azathioprine and cyclosporine, to suppress an exaggerated immune system response
• TNF-alpha blockers, such as infliximab, to reduce joint pain and swelling
• Antirheumatism, such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine, to slow the progression of psoriatic arthritis and prevent permanent damage to the joints
• Other drugs, such as ustekinumab and secukinumab, to relieve the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis

Operation

In addition to medication, doctors can also perform joint replacement surgery. In this operation, the doctor will replace the damaged joint with an artificial metal joint.

Please note, there is no specific treatment method that can completely cure psoriatic arthritis. The treatment above is limited to relieving symptoms and preventing the disease from getting worse.

Complications of Psoriasis Arthritis

People with psoriatic arthritis are more prone to the following diseases:

• Obesity
• Depression
• fatty liver disease
• Eye diseases, such as conjunctivitis and uveitis
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Inflammation of the intestines
• Osteoporosis
• Metabolic syndrome
• Cancer, such as leukemia and lymphoma

Prevention of Psoriasis Arthritis

Psoriasis arthritis symptoms can be prevented or alleviated by doing the following things:

• Light exercise, such as walking, cycling, and swimming
• Compress swollen joints with cold compresses to relieve them
• Compress joints with warm compresses to relieve stiffness and pain

To prevent psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis sufferers are advised to regularly seek treatment and check their condition with a doctor, at least once a year.