Kim Kardashian fell ill because of her diet. She couldn’t move her hands

Kim Kardashian said she contracted psoriatic arthritis prior to May’s MET Gala 2022 event. The cause was supposed to be a new diet. Can a change in eating habits really lead to inflammation in the joints? What is psoriatic arthritis?

1. Psoriatic arthritis, also known as articular psoriasis, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints
2. Specialists distinguish five types of psoriatic arthritis. A symptom of some of them are the so-called sausage fingers
3. Could a change in diet or the presence of meat in it cause articular psoriasis? What does a rheumatologist say?
4. More information can be found on the Onet homepage

Kim Kardashian suffered from psoriatic arthritis

Kim Kardashian recently told allure that the diet she used before Met Gala 2022 caused her psoriatic arthritis. The celebrity usually follows a plant-based diet, but three weeks before the annual fashion event, she switched to another that featured meat.

“Psoriasis appeared on my body, I also got psoriatic arthritis, I couldn’t even move my hands,” she admitted.

– I had to see a rheumatologist who prescribed me a steroid. I was close to madness, but I ruled out meat again and things improved, she added.

Psoriatic arthritis – what is it?

Psoriatic arthritis, also known as articular psoriasis, is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints. It is included in the so-called inflammatory spondyloarthropathies, i.e. a group of chronic inflammatory diseases, the common distinguishing feature of which is the simultaneous presence of inflammation of the spine, sacroiliac joints and peripheral joints.

Psoriatic arthritis often occurs together with skin psoriasis, but this is not necessarily the case. Experts say psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a form of psoriasis, as it develops in 40% of people. patients with skin psoriasis.

Psoriatic arthritis is often confused with ankylosing spondylitis, reactive arthritis, or rheumatoid arthritis. The disease cannot be transmitted through contact with a sick person. It is an autoimmune disease, but people with the HLA-B27 antigen are more likely to develop it. Psoriasis is not considered an inherited disease, but skin psoriasis is one of them.

The most characteristic symptom of psoriatic arthritis is changes in the interphalangeal joints (near the nails) in the hands or feet. Another typical symptom of the disease is the formation of bone spurs around the affected joints and asymmetrical involvement of the joints. There is no rheumatic factor in psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis develops mainly in the peripheral joints, but can also affect the spine and sacroiliac joints. In addition to the joints, tendon attachments, synovial bursae and periarticular tissues may also be involved. The disease leads to joint deformities and very often to disability. An example of an attack of psoriasis on periarticular tissues is the sausage finger symptom. The affected finger can actually be compared to a sausage because it is swollen, strongly red and the skin on it is very warm. These symptoms are also accompanied by pain.

Psoriatic arthritis – causes

Could a change in the diet or the presence of meat in it really cause articular psoriasis? Dr. Jonathan Chan, a rheumatologist and clinical researcher at Arthritis Research Canada, told Yahoo that dietary changes are unlikely to cause inflammation. There are other risk factors for this disease.

– There are many anecdotal reports that dietary changes affect skin, joints and other diseases. There are a few theoretical possible links, but there really is no proven research to speak of a cause-and-effect relationship, he explains.

The most important risk factors for developing psoriatic arthritis:

1. genetic – associated with HLA antigens – B27, DR4, DR7,
2. immunological
3. environmental – viral or bacterial infections, injuries, stress
4. pharmacological – the effect of certain medications

Psoriatic arthritis – types

Psoriatic arthritis can be mild or severe. The disease most often affects people between the ages of 20 and 40. Women get sick as often as men.

Specialists distinguish several types of psoriatic arthritis:

1. Classic variety – the disease affects the distal interphalangeal joints of the hands and feet, which makes it easier to distinguish it from rheumatoid arthritis. This type of PsA is more common in men than in women. Psoriatic lesions usually appear on the nails and are called the thimble symptom. This means that the entire nail looks like it has been pierced with a pin, you can see distinct depressions, like holes. Over time, the joint next to the nail deforms.
2. Arthritis mutilans variety – it is a rare form of the disease in which there is significant deformation and loss of finger bones as a result of osteolysis, i.e. bone dissolution and resorption as a result of inflammation in the joint.
3. Symmetrical polyarthritis – this type of psoriatic arthritis is difficult to distinguish from rheumatoid arthritis, especially when RA develops without the presence of rheumatoid factor in the blood (it is a seronegative form of rheumatoid arthritis). This form of the disease often occurs together with skin psoriasis. Only when the lesions affect the distal interphalangeal joints can you be sure that it is not RA. With this form of the disease, joints quickly become stiff and inflammation can spread to tendon attachments as well. Another symptom of polyarthritis is the loss of bone density around the joints.
4. Unsymmetrical arthritis – the most common type of psoriatic arthritis, which also develops in the joints of the feet. But this does not mean that it cannot attack the joints of the hands or knees as well. Joint exudations are characteristic of this type of disease. Arthritis is accompanied by skin psoriasis. Often the sick also have the sausage finger symptom.
5. A variety that affects the joints of the spine – diagnosing this form of the disease is very difficult and is sometimes confused with ankylosing spondylitis. However, after an X-ray of the spine has been performed, it can be seen that the sacroiliac joints are attacked asymmetrically. Over time, the disease spreads to the peripheral joints and tendon attachments.

Psoriatic arthritis – symptoms

Psoriatic arthritis has a different course, depending on the site and degree of involvement of the locomotor system and other organs. In its classic form, the disease manifests itself primarily through the involvement of the phalanges and sacroiliac joints, as well as soreness of the tendon attachments. There may be swelling, joint stiffness, limited mobility, and even deformity. The accompanying symptoms are, inter alia, fatigue, weakness and increased temperature.

The main symptoms of PsA are:

1. joint pain, stiffness and swelling with restricted movement
2. enthesitis 
3. finger inflammation – the disease affects all finger structures, deformation leads to the so-called sausage fingers.
4. joint deformities

Psoriatic arthritis may also be accompanied by: gout, osteoporosis, conjunctivitis, inflammatory bowel diseases or metabolic syndrome.

Psoriatic arthritis – treatment

A diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis should be made by a dermatologist or rheumatologist. In the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, pain relievers are used, i.e. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying drugs (e.g. methotrexate, sulfasalazine), which are selected depending on the type of disease.

In more severe cases, immunosuppressants (lowering the body’s resistance) may be necessary. Additionally, physical treatment and corrective gymnastics are used.

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