Psoriasis arthritis is an inflammatory disease of joints. In contrast to rheumatoid arthritis affecting primarily the joint cartilage and synovia psoriasis arthritis starts at the sites where ligaments and tendons insert into the bone.
About 20% (1 out of 5) patients with psoriasis develop psoriasis arthritis during their lifetime. Often, but not always, preceed skin symptoms joint inflammation. Psoriasis arthritis may occur decades after psoriasis manifestation.
In special forms of psoriasis arthritis the spine and the sacroiliac joints are involved leading to back pain symptoms. A typical manifestation of psoriasis arthritis is the inflammation of the joints and the surrounding soft tissue of one finger or toe („dactylitis“) and the involvement of tendons such as the Achilles tendon.
An early diagnosis of psoriasis arthritis is important to prevent irreversible joint damage. The treating physician should be informed about joint pain as soon as possible. The diagnosis should be made together with a rheumatologist.
