Psoriatic Arthritis – Signs and Symptoms

The specific cause of psoriatic arthritis is not yet known, which means that no one knows for sure if they will develop the disease at any time in their life. Researchers believe that it is caused by a combination of immune, genetic and environmental factors are the culprits. For those patients who have psoriatic arthritis in the spine there is a gene marker named HLA-B27 which is often found through blood tests. Currently research is investigating the potential link between infectious diseases as well as environmental factors and psoriatic arthritis. Because there is no specific cause that is known to cause psoriatic arthritis, doctors have the choice to treat the symptoms or the disease.

Know the Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis may start off as psoriasis in many patients but may not become psoriatic arthritis for many months or even years. Psoriatic arthritis symptoms frequently involve the ankles, knees and joints in the feet and just a few joints may be affected at any one time. In most cases the affected joints will become red, hot, swollen, and painful. If the digits are affected they will often become so swollen and red that they will have the appearance of a sausage.

Most patients who suffer from psoriatic arthritis complain of symptoms including stiff joints in the morning. Other psoriatic arthritis symptoms include inflammation of the spine as well as the sacrum, stiffness in the buttocks, lower back, neck and upper back. In some cases it will affect both sides of the body in the same joint, and other times it will not.

Patients who suffer the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis may also develop tendonitis or inflammation of the tendons. Inflammation may also occur around the cartilage. psoriatic arthritis symptoms may also cause inflammation of the tendon that lies behind the heel. This can lead to Achilles tendonitis which can be very painful. Some patients also complain of chest pains associated with the disease.

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis will vary widely from patient to patient. Psoriatic arthritis symptoms can cause inflammation in the lungs, eyes and aorta. When the iris of the eye becomes inflamed, it can be aggravated by bright light. It may be necessary to inject corticosteroids right into the eyes to decrease inflammation and prevent blindness. When the area in and around the lungs become inflamed, this can cause chest pain, especially when a deep breath is taken. It can also cause shortness of breath. When the aorta becomes inflamed, this can cause leakage around the aortic valves which, if not treated, could lead to heart failure. These symptoms need to be treated by a professional to avoid long term consequences.

Psoriatic arthritis symptoms may also include changes in the skin as well as the nails. Pitting and ridges are seen in finger as well as toe nails in more than 80% of patients who suffer from psoriatic arthritis. Acne occurs in a high number of patients who have this disease. A new syndrome has been seen in those who have psoriatic arthritis that is linked to an inflammation of the joints which causes acne and pustules on the palms or on the bottoms of the feet.