Diagnosis and management of psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a multi-faceted disease marked by varying combinations of peripheral arthritis, dactylitis, spondylitis, and enthesitis. Rarely, recurrent uveitis occurs. Skin involvement may or may not exist. However, patients with nail psoriasis have a higher probability of developing PsA. Untreated patients have significant morbidity and mortality. Timely diagnosis and aggressive treatment of the disease can lead to lower morbidity. Drug therapy of PsA includes symptomatic therapy and therapy with disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Biologics are the only agents that address all the pathological changes, of this chronic condition.