Authors' recommendations: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by red, scaly skin lesions that are typically located on the elbows, knees, lower back, and umbilical area. Some patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA), which is a seronegative inflammatory spondyloarthropathy (spondylarthritis, or inflammation of the vertebral column). The incidence of PsA in patients with psoriasis is unclear but is estimated to range from 10% to 30%. Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the United States and causes significant functional impairment and affects quality of life. Symptoms of PsA are edema, pain, tenderness, and stiffness of joints, ligaments, and tendons. The severity can vary from a mild oligoarticular form affecting a few joints to a severe erosive polyarticular form that is associated with deformities in numerous joints. Mild forms of PsA may be treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and intra-articular glucocorticoid injections, which may relieve the symptoms but do not significantly alter disease progression. Approximately 50% of patients with PsA progress to an advanced stage of disease with joint destruction. Moderate to severe forms of PsA are treated with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), particularly methotrexate, and monoclonal antibodies to tumor necrosis factor (TNF).

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2013

URL for published report: The report may be purchased from: http://www.hayesinc.com/hayes/crd/?crd=16052

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: United States

Organisation Name: HAYES, Inc.

Contact Address: 157 S. Broad Street, Suite 200, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA. Tel: 215 855 0615; Fax: 215 855 5218

Contact Name: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Contact Email: saleinfo@hayesinc.com

Copyright: 2013 Winifred S. Hayes, Inc