Genetic Studies of Psoriatic Arthritis: Dissecting Joints and Skin

[Guest guest]

From an Editorial in the Journal of Rheumatology of January 2001,

" Genetic Studies of Psoriatic Arthritis: Dissecting Joints and Skin " :

" Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is broadly defined as " an inflammatory

arthritis associated with psoriasis which is usually negative for

rheumatoid factor. " Such a definition has been widely criticized and no

internationally agreed criteria for the diagnosis of PsA have ever been

successfully developed and applied. A major point of debate remains the

distinctiveness of PsA as an entity. Patients with psoriasis may

coincidentally develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis

(AS), etc. The proportion of patients who therefore develop a distinct

entity of PsA and the key features that make up this entity are still

subject to much debate. Several well conducted epidemiological surveys

have noted an increased prevalence of inflammatory polyarthritis in

patients with psoriasis. In addition, there is an increased prevalence

of psoriasis in patients with arthritis, particularly in patients who

are negative for rheumatoid factor.... "

To read more of this interesting piece:

http://jrheum.com/abstracts/abstracts01/3.html