Psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that occurs in about one-third (30%) of patients with psoriasis but can also occur on its own in patients with no prior history of psoriasis.

It has a very variable clinical presentation: it can affect both peripheral joints (limbs) and the axial skeleton (spine), the sites where tendons insert into the bone (enthesitis), or tendinous structures (tenosynovitis). It can also cause ocular involvement with conjunctivitis and uveitis.

If not properly treated, it is associated with joint deformities, spinal ankylosis, and other structural changes in the musculoskeletal system, leading to permanent physical disability and a drastic reduction in quality of life.

Fortunately, in recent decades there has been a very significant improvement in the management and treatment of this disease, with the introduction of tools for earlier diagnosis and new drugs with superior efficacy.

The earlier the treatment is started, the better the long-term prognosis. Treatment should always be tailored to each case: the importance of the non-pharmacological component and the value of shared decision-making with the patient should be considered.

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​Useful Links:

https://www.spreumatologia.pt/artrite-psoriatica/

https://www.aporos.pt/