- Psoriatic arthritis - be attentive to his hands
- As shown
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis. Most people initially develops psoriasis, and only then they are diagnosed psoriatic arthritis, joint problems but sometimes appear before skin problems. Psoriatic arthritis occurs most often in people aged 30 to 50 years.
Symptoms
Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis - a chronic disease that are exacerbated over time. Sometimes it comes improvement, or even a more or less long-term remission, which is then followed by deterioration.
The main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis:
- Swollen fingers and toes. In patients with psoriatic arthritis fingers may become swollen and painful. Swelling and deformity of some joints of the hands and feet may occur before the appearance of other symptoms.
- Pain in the feet. Psoriatic arthritis
Arthritis - a variety of forms and complications
It can also cause pain in the points where tendons and ligaments attach to bones - especially in the back of the heel (Achilles tendon).
- Lower back pain. Some people on the background of psoriatic arthritis develops such a breach as spondylitis. It causes inflammation, advantageously between vertebrae of the lumbar spine and joints of the pelvic region.
Causes
Psoriatic arthritis develops when the body's immune system begins to attack healthy cells and tissues. Abnormal immune response causes inflammation of the joints, as well as the overproduction of skin cells.
Reasons for autoimmune disorders are not entirely clear; probably involved in their development as genetic factors and environmental factors. Many people with psoriatic arthritis have a family history of psoriasis and / or psoriatic arthritis. Scientists have identified certain genetic markers that are apparently associated with the development of psoriatic arthritis.
Physical trauma and exposure to environmental factors, such as viruses and bacteria can be triggers of psoriatic arthritis in humans, having a genetic predisposition to the disease.
Diagnostics
No test can help diagnose with precision psoriatic arthritis, but diagnostic methods help to rule out other causes of joint pain
Joint pain - how to understand what is going on?
For example, rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis - when the sore joints
and gout.
- X-ray is used to detect changes in the joints that occur in psoriatic arthritis.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This method of medical imaging may be used to check the status of the tendons and ligaments.
- Rheumatoid factor - this is the antibody that is often found in the blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, but usually lack psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatoid factor analysis allows to eliminate one of these diseases.
- Analysis of joint fluid. Using long, thin needle from the patient's joint take a small amount of fluid for analysis. The presence in the synovial fluid of crystals of uric acid is an indicator of gout; their absence will help confirm the "psoriatic arthritis."
Treatment
Arthritis Cure psioriatichesky impossible, so treatment focuses on controlling inflammation, preventing joint pain and limited mobility.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents
Drugs such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help control pain, swelling and inflammation, prevent joint stiffness in the morning. Typically, NSAIDs are the drugs of first choice in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. In some cases, prescribe prescription NSAIDs.
However, NSAIDs can cause irritation of the stomach and intestines, and Propafenone sometimes lead to bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract. Other possible side effects include kidney damage, fluid retention, hypertension and heart failure. In addition, NSAIDs may worsen skin problems in patients with psoriasis.
Basic anti-rheumatic drugs
Drugs of this type limit the damage that can cause joints psoriatic arthritis. These drugs act slowly - their effect may be noticeable only after a few weeks or months. From basic antirheumatic drugs for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis is most often used metatreksat. It, however, can cause serious side effects, including problems with the lungs, kidneys and liver.
Immunosuppressants
For the treatment of psoriatic arthritis most commonly used immunosuppressants, such as azathioprine, cyclosporine and leflunomide. Since immunosuprssanty have potentially dangerous side effects, they are used only in the most severe forms of psoriatic arthritis.
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)
In very severe psoriatic arthritis doctor may prescribe receiving TNF inhibitors. Medicaments block the activity of this group of proteins that cause inflammation in some types of arthritis, and improve the signs and symptoms of psoriasis
The symptoms of psoriasis - a great variety
. TNF-alpha inhibitors are drugs such as adalimumab, etanercept, infliximab and golimumab.
Some side effects of TNF-alpha inhibitors may be threatening the patient's life, so before taking detailed discussion of the risks and benefits that these drugs can bring in a particular case.