Which inflammatory arthritis is associated with psoriasis?

Which inflammatory arthritis is associated with psoriasis?

• A. Osteoarthritis
• B. Psoriatic arthritis
• C. Rheumatoid arthritis
• D. Gout

Answer: (B)

Psoriatic arthritis is the inflammatory joint condition that occurs in people with psoriasis. It links the skin disease to joint inflammation, and may present with features like asymmetric joint involvement, dactylitis (sausage-like swelling of a finger or toe), enthesitis (inflammation where tendons attach to bone), and nail changes such as pitting or onycholysis. It’s typically seronegative for rheumatoid factor, which helps distinguish it from some other inflammatory arthritides, and it can affect both peripheral joints and the spine. The other options are not specifically associated with psoriasis: osteoarthritis is a degenerative, noninflammatory process; gout stems from urate crystal deposition; rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory arthritis not inherently linked to psoriasis.

Psoriatic arthritis is the inflammatory joint condition that occurs in people with psoriasis. It links the skin disease to joint inflammation, and may present with features like asymmetric joint involvement, dactylitis (sausage-like swelling of a finger or toe), enthesitis (inflammation where tendons attach to bone), and nail changes such as pitting or onycholysis. It’s typically seronegative for rheumatoid factor, which helps distinguish it from some other inflammatory arthritides, and it can affect both peripheral joints and the spine. The other options are not specifically associated with psoriasis: osteoarthritis is a degenerative, noninflammatory process; gout stems from urate crystal deposition; rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune inflammatory arthritis not inherently linked to psoriasis.