The History of Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): From Moll and Wright to Pathway-Specific Therapy

Psoriatic arthritis is a distinct disorder, separate from rheumatoid arthritis, and first recognized in a thirteenth century Saxon skeleton. It was, however, the monumental work of Verna Wright in the 1950s that led to the acceptance by the American Rheumatism Association (now American College of Rheumatology) in 1964 as a distinct entity. Wright's work provided the framework for a better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms operating on this condition, and eventually led to the development of targeted therapy that has proven to be more effective and safe than conventional therapy.

Pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis has been better delineated in recent years, as well as the use of biological therapy. Recent findings are discussed in detail. Historical aspects of psoriatic arthritis, recent developments in pathogenesis, and therapy are discussed, and the contributions of Verna Wright to our understanding of the disorder are presented.