Psoriatic arthropathy

Question 1

What is it

Answer 1

Psoriatic arthropathy is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis and is classed as one of the seronegative spondyloarthropathies.

Question 2

What is the pattern

Answer 2

symmetric polyarthritis
very similar to rheumatoid arthritis
Or
Asymetric oligoarthritis that affects hands and feet

joint disease DIP

Sacroillitis

Question 3

What is oligoarthritis

Answer 3

arthritis affecting two to four joints during the first six months of disease.

Question 4

What happens to fingers

Answer 4

DIP joint disease (10%)
arthritis mutilans (severe deformity fingers/hand, ‘telescoping fingers’)
Dactylitis

Question 5

What is periarticular arthritis

Answer 5

enosynovitis and soft tissue inflammation resulting in:
enthesitis: inflammation at the site of tendon and ligament insertion e.g. Achilles tendonitis, plantar fascitis
tenosynovitis: typically of the flexor tendons of the hands
dactylitis: diffuse swelling of a finger or toe

Question 6

What is the investigation

Answer 6

X-ray
often have the unusual combination of coexistence of erosive changes and new bone formation
periostitis
‘pencil-in-cup’ appearance