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Arthritis and psoriasis of the skin and nails are components of the chronic disease – psoriatic arthritis. This problem most often affects men. The first symptoms appear around the age of 40.
So far, the causes of the disease have not been identified. Scientists speculate that psoriatic arthritis may be hereditary in some cases.
“Sausage fingers”
The course of the disease is varied. The beginning can be sharp. More often, however, symptoms develop gradually. The main symptom is pain and stiffness in the joints. Sometimes there is also swelling and severe pain when pressing on the affected area. The skin over the joints is sometimes red or even red. Sometimes the symptoms may resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis. Radiological examinations show erosions, local joint cavities, osteoporosis, bone and joint deformation, ossification of menisci and trochanterias, and adhesions. Usually, the disease progresses with periods of exacerbation, between which there are – sometimes long-term – remissions (periods of withdrawal of the disease symptoms). Joint changes occur mostly on one side and most often (in 95% of cases) affect the lower limbs. The interphalangeal joints of the hands and feet are typically affected. It is from their distortion in the course of the disease that the term “sausage fingers” comes from.
Skin lesions usually appear around 20 years before the joint abnormalities occur. However, in nearly 16% of cases, the order of symptoms appearing is the opposite, and in about 10% of patients, skin and joint symptoms may develop simultaneously.
Can this disease be treated?
A diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis should be made by a dermatologist or rheumatologist. The most frequently recommended therapy is non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and intra-articular injections of corticosteroids. In more severe cases, immunosuppressants (lowering the body’s resistance) may be necessary. Additionally, physical treatment and corrective gymnastics are used.
Text: lek. med. Matylda Mazur
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