In-depth Insight into Psoriatic Arthritis: The Various Categories Described

In-depth Insight into Psoriatic Arthritis: The Various Categories Described

Laid-Back Lowdown on Psoriatic Arthritis Types and Treatments

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) comes in five flavors, each with its own set of symptoms and treatments. Here's the lowdown on each type:

The 5 PsA Types Explained

1. Asymmetric PsA

• Affects more than half of PsA patients.
• Symptoms appear in single joints, not always on the same side.
• Blurred vision, nail pitting, cracked nails, joint pain, swelling, stiffness, and ligament/tendon pain are common symptoms.
• Potential treatments include physical therapy, oral steroids, biologic drugs, NSAIDs, and intra-articular joint injections.

2. Symmetric PsA

• Affects around a third of PsA patients, more commonly in women.
• Symptoms mirror those of asymmetric PsA but often affect smaller joints in the feet and hands.
• Treatments depend on factors like age, weight, and overall health, and typically include NSAIDs, DMARDs, and biologics.

3. Distal Interphalangeal (DIP) PsA

• Affects approximately 10 percent of PsA patients.
• Targets DIP joints near finger and toe tips, causing joint pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and often nail issues.
• Common treatments include NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, and TNF inhibitors, with DIY remedies like cold therapy, nail care, soaking, and keeping hands/feet dry as potential temporary relief.

4. Spondylitis PsA

• Affects around 10% of PsA patients.
• Focuses on inflammation in the spine and sacroiliac joints, causing neck/back pain and stiffness, and may also affect other joints.
• Treatments include NSAIDs, biologic DMARDs, and physical therapy.

5. PsA Mutilans

• Affects about 5 percent of PsA patients.
• Causes severe inflammation, deformities, bone loss, and reduced range of motion in affected joints.
• Treatments focus on controlling inflammation using anti-TNF inhibitors, DMARDs, or biologic medications, with ongoing research using etanercept for possible joint function restoration.

What's the Deal with PsA Treatment?

• Medications: Includes NSAIDs for initial symptom relief, conventional DMARDs like methotrexate or sulfasalazine, and biologic agents like TNF inhibitors, IL-17 or IL-23 inhibitors for moderate to severe disease.
• Additional Management: includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, concurrent skin psoriasis treatment, and regular monitoring for eye inflammation and other systemic complications.

1. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a type of chronic disease, comes in five distinct forms, each with unique symptoms and treatment options.
2. Asymmetric PsA, Affecting more than half of PsA patients, presents symptoms in single joints, not always on the same side, and can include joint pain, swelling, stiffness, blurred vision, and nail pitting.
3. Treatment for Asymmetric PsA may comprise physical therapy, oral steroids, biologic drugs, NSAIDs, and intra-articular joint injections.
4. Symmetric PsA, affecting around a third of PsA patients, mostly women, shares similar symptoms with Asymmetric PsA but primarily affects smaller joints in the feet and hands.
5. Treatments for Symmetric PsA are influenced by factors like age, weight, and overall health, often including NSAIDs, DMARDs, and biologics.
6. Distal Interphalangeal (DIP) PsA, impacting approximately 10 percent of PsA patients, targets DIP joints near finger and toe tips, causing joint pain, swelling, reduced range of motion, and often nail issues.
7. In managing DIP PsA, treatments like NSAIDs, corticosteroid injections, and TNF inhibitors are common, with DIY remedies offering potential temporary relief through cold therapy, nail care, soaking, and maintaining dry hands and feet.

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