Psoriatic arthritis is a less common type of inflammatory arthritis which affects the joints of knees, toes, wrists, fingers, shoulders and ankles. This disease is related to psoriasis and causes the inflammation of joints as well as scaly rash on the skin. It may be caused due to environmental, genetic factors and some immunological abnormalities. There are five major types of psoriatic arthritis such as asymmetric arthritis, symmetric arthritis, spondylitis, distal interphalangeal predominant arthritis and arthritis mutilans.
In many cases, psoriasis is followed by the psoriatic arthritis and involves the joints of the joints in ankles, knees and feet. The main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are inflammation of joints resulting in swollen, red, warm and painful joints. Sometimes, inflammation in the joints of toes or fingers may lead to swelling of entire digit. Joint stiffness is frequently seen to be worsened early in the morning. Psoriatic arthritis may result in the spondylitis (inflammation of spine) and sacrum which causes stiffness and pain in low back, upper back, neck and buttocks.
An inflammation of tendons (tendonitis) can be one of the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis in some patients. Tendonitis behind the heel results in Achilles tendonitis which may cause pains while walking and climbing stairs. An inflammation of chest wall and the cartilage that joins the ribs to sternum can give rise to chest pain similar to that of costochondritis.
Besides spondylitis and arthritis, psoriatic arthritis may cause the inflammation of other organs such as lungs, eyes and aorta. An inflammation in eye’s colored portion causes iritis which may be aggravated due to bright light. Pleuritis, the inflammation in and around the lungs, results in chest pain that worsens with deep breathing. Aortitis (inflammation of aorta) may result in the leakage of aortic valves which may cause shortness of breath and heart failure.
The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can be observed in different patterns. Asymmetrical oligoarticular arthritis affects the joints of toes and fingers, while symmetrical polyarthritis may involve the joints of feet, wrists, hands and ankles. Distal interphalangeal arthropathy involves the joints present at the ends of toes and fingers as well as nails and the skin around the edges of nails. Arthritis mutilans is a long-term psoriatic arthritis in which severe damage and deformities of the joints can be found.
The warning signs of psoriatic arthritis are pain and swelling in the toes or fingers, pain and swelling over ligaments and tendons, pitting of the toenails or fingernails, morning stiffness, fatigue and limited range of motion.
