The symptoms you might experience often depend on the subtype of PsA you have.
The five types of PsA areasymmetric,symmetric,psoriatic spondylitis,distal interphalangeal predominant, andpsoriatic arthritis mutilans.
“Asymmetric” means it affects joints on only one side of the body.
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For example, you may experience pain in your right knee and not your left.
Symptoms usually begin in one knee.
Symptoms
Asymmetric PsA is milder than other subtypes of PsA.
It tends to affect the larger joints but can also affect a hand or foot.
For example, it affects both knees or elbows, rather than one of these joints.
In most cases, asymmetric PsA evolves into symmetric PsA.
One-third of people with symmetric disease will experience dactylitis and enthesitis.
Symmetric PsA can affect any joint in the body, and symptoms range from mild to severe.
They are similar to those experienced in asymmetric PsA.
Joint symptoms affect matching parts of the body.
Symmetric PsA also causes morning stiffness and skin rashes.
Psoriatic Spondylitis
Psoriatic spondylitis is a subtype of PsA that affects the spine and the pelvis.
According to the Spondylitis Association of America, about 20% of people with PsA will develop psoriatic spondylitis.
DIP PsA mainly affects the ends of the fingers and toes.
It can also cause nail changes like pitting, discoloration, and nail bed separation.
Pain in the finger joints is one of the earliest symptoms of this jot down of PsA.
Stiffness and swelling in the toes make it harder to walk and stand for long periods.
Psoriatic AM causes joints to fuse eventually.
Symptoms of psoriatic AM are worse during flare-ups, times when symptoms are worse.
A PsA flareup can last for days or weeks.
The sooner a person is diagnosed, the earlier they can start treatment to prevent further joint damage.
They will ask about your family history of PsA and autoimmune skin conditionpsoriasisor your personal medical history of psoriasis.
The next step in determining the cause of your symptoms is a physical examination.
Your healthcare provider will examine your joints for joint tenderness, swelling, and movement difficulties.
They will also check for nail symptoms and skin lesions.
Your healthcare provider will also request blood work and imaging studies to aid in a diagnosis.
Blood work done for PsA includesC-reactive protein(CRP) andrheumatoid factor(RF) testing.
A CRP test measures inflammation levels in the body, and a negative RF can rule out rheumatoid arthritis.
People with psoriasis or a family history of PsA or psoriasis have an increased risk for PsA.
How Is Each throw in of Psoriatic Arthritis Treated?
There areplenty of treatment options for PsA.
These drugs treat disease symptoms and reduce disease progression.
They includeconventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs(DMARDs) andbiologic drug therapies.
Conventional DMARDs can manage overall inflammation to prevent further joint damage.
Examples include Trexall (methotrexate), Azulfidine (sulfasalazine), and Arava (leflunomide).
Biologics typically cause fewer side effects than conventional DMARDs.
These drugs inhibit enzymes linked to inflammation.
When these are blocked, the body will stop producing inflammatory proteins that cause PsA symptoms.
Physical therapyand regular exercise can increase joint and muscle strength, flexibility, and mobility.
Subtype Considerations
Asymmetric and symmetric PsA tend to be milder than the other subtypes of PsA.
First-line therapies, including NSAIDs and low-dose corticosteroids, can help to reduce inflammation and manage other disease symptoms.
As time goes on, these types of PsA can progress and require systemic therapy or even surgical intervention.
These subtypes can also evolve into the more aggressive types.
Much like DIP PsA and psoriatic AM, treatment needs to be aggressive.
The more severe types of PsADIP PsA and psoriatic AMare treated more aggressively than asymmetric and symmetric PsA.
The treatment goals for more severe types are to reduce pain and disability.
There are five subtypes of PsA characterized by the joints they affect.
For example, distal interphalangeal psoriatic arthritis affects the joints in the fingers.
People can have one kind of PsA and develop another subtype later on, when their disease progresses.
A Word From Verywell
Psoriatic arthritis outlook varies.
The more severe symptoms are, the more likely PsA will affect your mobility.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most severe subtype of psoriatic arthritis is arthritis mutilans.
It affects less than 4% of people with PsA.
Some people may also experience small patches of skin lesions like those seen in psoriasis.
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