Psoriatic arthritis 'common' among people with skin condition

A new study suggests that as many as 14 per cent of people with the skin disorder psoriasis may also have a related form of arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in and around the joints, usually in people who already have psoriasis.

Although the link between the two conditions is not fully understood, a particular combination of genes is thought to play a role in some patients.

Researchers at the University of Leeds set out to determine the proportion of people with psoriasis who go on to develop psoriatic arthritis.

They analysed data on 22,500 patients from two large general practices in the UK and identified 633 patients with psoriasis.

These patients were then sent questionnaires, and 93 were subsequently examined after returning their completed surveys.

Publishing their findings in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatism, the researchers revealed that 12 of the psoriasis patients were deemed to have psoriatic arthritis, although the autoimmune disease can be hard to differentiate from other forms of arthritis that are not linked to psoriasis.

Overall, they estimated that 13.8 per cent of people with psoriasis are also affected by psoriatic arthritis.

Dr Philip Helliwell, from the University of Leeds' Academic Unit of Musculoskeletal Disease, told Reuters Health: "People with psoriasis who complain of pain in their joints or back may have an important and treatable arthritis.

"Most of the people we diagnosed had symptoms for many years which had been overlooked or misdiagnosed by their physicians."

Dr Helliwell also told the news provider that the team are now extending their study to find the most effective screening tool for psoriatic arthritis in people with psoriasis.

The Arthritis Research Campaign is funding Dr Helliwell's clinical trial to compare the effectiveness of standard care in early psoriatic arthritis with intensive treatment. The aim is to provide evidence-based optimal treatment for patients.

© Adfero Ltd

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