Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects some people who have psoriasis — a condition that features red patches of skin topped with silvery scales. Psoriatic arthritis can cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in and around your joints.
About 30% of people with psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis. It tends to develop 5 to 10 years after psoriasis is diagnosed, although some people may have psoriatic arthritis before they notice psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis are autoimmune conditions.
Common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis:
- Stiffness, pain, swelling, and tenderness in one or more joints
- Fatigue
- Swollen fingers and toes that sometimes resemble sausages (dactylitis)
- Pain and swelling over entheses, which are places in the body where ligaments attach to bones. (enthesitis)
- Nail changes, such as pitting or separation from the nail bed
- Redness and pain of the eye (uveitis)
There’s no specific test to diagnose psoriatic arthritis, so a diagnosis will be made based on your symptoms and a physical examination by your rheumatologist. Blood tests, X-rays of your back, hands, and feet may help to confirm the diagnosis. Other types of imaging, such as ultrasound scans and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may also help to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatments for psoriatic arthritis range from oral medications that reduce inflammation and swelling to biological therapies, while targeting specific parts of your immune system to combat symptoms and slow joint damage.