Joint involvement in psoriasis: scintigraphic, radiologic and clinical findings

The results of a double-blind prospective study on patients with uncomplicated psoriasis (Ps), psoriasis with arthritis (PA) and a control group (C) are reported. The three groups were matched for age and sex. In the Ps and C groups no significant difference of the radiographic and scintigraphic results was found. The PA group showed significantly more scintigraphic accumulations compared to the two other groups, but no connection between scintigraphy and joint symptoms was found. The patients in the Ps and PA groups were treated with zinc sulfate per os for 8 weeks with no change in the radiographic findings. The PA group showed less and the Ps group more scintigraphic lesions after treatment. During treatment a small but significant decrease in hemoglobin, serum iron and gamma globulin was shown.