DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i08.016

Pages: 2820-2825

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology generally with negative rheumatoid factor and associated with patients having psoriasis. The prevalence of uncomplicated psoriasis is between 1-3% in the general population. Arthritis is found in increased frequency in psoriatic patients and its incidence is estimated to be 5-7%. In severe psoriasis, arthritis can occur in up to 30-40% of the patients and can go on to develop usually within 6- 10 years of cutaneous onset of disease. Dermatologist are in a better position to detect psoriatic arthritis earlier once the skin lesions are found through regular screening and proper follow-up. The clinical course of peripheral and axial psoriatic arthritis is usually less severe than rheumatoid arthritis and Ankylosing spondylitis, respectively. There are five recognized presentations of psoriatic arthritis Asymmetric arthritis, Symmetric arthritis, Arthritis mutilans, Ankylosing spondylitis, Special form. Here we review the literature to identify the clinical types and genetic factors most highly associated with development of psoriatic arthritis, with the goal of assisting dermatologists in risk-stratifying their psoriasis patients. Local corticosteroid injections and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended in milder forms. Sulphasalazine and methotrexate are effective in peripheral psoriatic arthritis. Recent studies have provided evidence on the efficacy of anti-tumor necrosis factor-α drugs to control symptoms and to slow or arrest radiological disease progression.