Definition
Psoriatic rheumatism is a chronic inflammatory disease that attacks both the skin (psoriasis) and the joints. It is an autoimmune disease where the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues.
Symptoms
How does the disease manifest?
Main symptoms:
- Joint pain
- Swollen joints
- Morning stiffness
- Fatigue
- Psoriasis on the skin
(red flaky patches)
Other possible symptoms:
- Enthesitis
(inflammation of the tendons where they attach to bone) - Dactylitis
(sausage fingers) - Changes in finger and toe nails
Factors
Risk factors
- Presence of psoriasis
- Family history of psoriasis or psoriatic rheumatism
- Presence of the antigen HLA-B27
Disease mechanisms:
The exact cause is unknown, but a combination of genetic and environmental factors seems to trigger an abnormal immune response that affects both the skin and the joints.
Treatments
What treatments for the disease?
Treatment objectives:
Reduce inflammation, relieve pain, preserve joint mobility and control the skin inflammation.
Medication treatments:
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDS) - Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs
(DMARDs) - Biotherapies
(inhibitors of TNF-alpha, inhibitors of IL-17)
Non-medication treatments:
- Physiotherapy
- Occupational therapy
- Therapeutic education
of the patient