Some autoimmune joint pathologies arising from skin lesions are psoriatic arthritis. This disease is characterized by a chronic or acute form of leakage.
Description of pathology
The occurrence of such arthritis occurs equally in both men and women, usually in adulthood. Pathology is a consequence of the inflammatory process in the bone tissue of the joints. Its main precursors are rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, which occur both separately and in parallel.
The manifestation of pathology is based on the growing cells that form on the surface of the skin. In psoriatic arthritis, a person has an acute pain syndrome in the joints, which indicates the beginning of the inflammatory process. Pathology most often manifests itself in the head, elbow and knee joints. When a person has signs of psoriasis, then in the futurethe occurrence of complications in the form of psoriatic arthritis is not excluded.
At the present stage, there is a tendency for an increase in the incidence of this pathology not only among the elderly, but also among young people. In order to successfully deal with such a dangerous disease, one should understand the causes, types and symptoms of this disease.
Varieties of pathology
Psoriatic arthritis is divided into several types that have characteristic symptoms and manifestations. Varieties of this disease are:
- Asymmetrical, which is characterized by damage to several joints at the same time. In most cases, there are three of them, and both a small bone element and a large one are affected.
- Symmetrical. This type characterizes the defeat of paired joints, which, as a result, entails a person's disability. In terms of symptoms, it is in many ways similar to a pathology such as rheumatoid arthritis.
- Arthritis of the distal interphalangeal joints of the feet and hands. This type of disease is characterized by damage to the small joints of the fingers located near the nail plates. This mainly applies to the upper extremities, but it can also occur in the lower ones. This type of disease is similar to osteoarthritis, which makes it sometimes difficult to distinguish between these diseases in the initial stages.
- Spondylosis. The occurrence of this disease indicates damage to the bone tissue of the spine, and sometimes the hip region, while the pathology can develop in several or one section of the spinal column.
- Mutilating or deforming arthritis, which is the most complex type, when a person, as a rule, becomes disabled for life. The causes of disability are that the affected joints cease to perform their main functions and the person cannot perform the simplest manipulations of the legs and arms. In rare cases, deforming psoriatic arthritis is fatal.
Causes of disease
Each variety of this disease species has its own characteristics, in the presence of which a person manifests certain symptoms. In addition, there are certain conditions that cause the formation of psoriatic arthritis, which are very important to know.
The development of the disease can occur against the background of the transformation of epidermal cells, which, in turn, are provoked by certain changes in biological and chemical processes. The same factors determine the development of foci of the inflammatory process in bone tissues and joint cavities. The specific causes of the formation of psoriatic arthritis are not yet fully understood, however, medical researchers suggest that the main factors that affect the development of the disease are disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. All kinds of nervous shocks, stress and mood swings over time can provoke the symptoms of such a serious illness.
However, this is not the only reason, since hereditary factors should not be excluded, as a resultthe actions of which the offspring can develop psoriatic arthritis (in the photo in the article you can see where the disease is localized).
Provoking factors
There are a number of other factors that lead to the development of such a pathological deviation. For example, when infected with various types of viruses or bacteria, some of which are able to live inside the human body for quite a long time, becoming the causative agents of this disease.
In cases where the joints have been bruised or damaged, the formation of psoriatic arthritis can also begin, since even a minor injury can cause very serious consequences.
When metabolic processes in the body are disturbed, all organs experience great overload, which leads to malfunctions in their work and provokes the development of this pathology. This phenomenon is especially characteristic of the spine.
In addition to the above, the cause of arthritis can be a surgical intervention, as a result of which infection could occur.
When the processes of transformation of connective tissues occur, as a result of which a person may develop psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis also develops.
Less common causes
Other, less common causes:
- Nervous disorders, frequent stress. Any psycho-emotional failures lead to dysfunction of certain organs, which can cause the development of this disease.
- Harmfulhabits. Alcohol and tobacco smoking lead to a decrease in human immune defense, which increases the possibility of active spread and growth in the number of pathogenic bacteria.
- Changes in hormonal levels. This reason is typical mainly for women, since the body needs to constantly adapt to changes in the ratio of hormones during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause. For example, during pregnancy, the symptoms of the disease can be completely unpredictable. In some pregnant women, there is an increase in signs of pathology, while in others, the symptoms of the disease fade away. During menopause, the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis tend to get worse. This is due to the fact that at this period women have insufficient absorption of calcium, which provokes osteorosis, bone disease.
- With the use of certain medications, the likelihood of developing this disease is also not excluded. These drugs include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as Ibuprofen and Diclofenac.
From the foregoing, we can conclude that there are a lot of reasons for the development of such a disease, so almost everyone can get sick with such an ailment.
Before we look at how to treat psoriatic arthritis, let's talk about its symptoms.
Symptoms of disease
Symptomatic pathology often occurs in people suffering from psoriasis. The time interval from the onset of psoriasis to the onset of arthritisvaries from a few weeks to decades. Arthritis may be preceded by the appearance of dermatosis, when there is a lesion of the nail processes. As a result of the development of dermatosis, small depressions appear on the nails, clouding and depletion of the nail surface are noted. As a result, the nails begin to crumble and fall off.
Most often, the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (they can be seen in the photo in medical reference books) proceed imperceptibly and gradually become chronic, however, in cases where the signs of the disease in an acute form prevail, the disease can be successfully treated.
Symptoms of arthritis in the form of spondylosis and interphalangeal joint lesions are less common. In this case, swelling and an increase in the size of the joints can be observed. In most cases, these symptoms of psoriatic arthritis gradually spread beyond the joints. The skin in such areas becomes bluish in color, and the nails atrophy and stop growing. The fingers become twisted, with a characteristic increase in the interphalangeal joints.
Most often, doctors diagnose the pathology of large joints: elbow, knee, ankle. Only in five percent of cases, people have a vertebral or hip form of this disease. The inflammatory process is also characterized by symptoms of acute pain, which occurs depending on the location of the lesion.
The symptoms and treatment of psoriatic arthritis are interrelated.
Diagnosis of disease
Diagnosis should be based on historypatient and some methods of physiological research. If we consider laboratory research methods, then it is impossible to diagnose this joint disease using them. Patients may experience only a slight increase in ESR levels.
X-ray
For the detection of psoriatic arthritis, there is a reliable method that allows you to make an accurate diagnosis, and this is radiography. Through X-ray data, the specialist has a visual confirmation of the picture of pathological changes in the joints, since the image clearly shows their deformation and damage, as well as the growth of osteophytes in some areas of the bone tissue.
Inspection
In addition to x-rays, the doctor also examines the patient. If he has signs of damage to the skin, rashes on the skin or deformation of the nails, then this primarily indicates the development of the disease. Based on a properly organized diagnosis, the specialist prescribes the appropriate treatment for psoriatic arthritis.
Treatment of disease
Therapy of this pathology is a complex and lengthy process, and it cannot be completely cured, but the sooner measures are taken, the higher the chance that the disease will remission. The main goal of treatment is to stop further tissue damage, reduce inflammation and restore motor function.
Medicines
In the traditional treatment of psoriaticarthritis, such medications as Naproxen, Butadion, Ibuprofen are used. Corticosteroid and glucocorticoid injections are also used, monoclonal antibody preparations and sedative medications are used.
Methods of physiotherapy are also appropriate - ultrasound, laser therapy, massage, etc.
Diet for psoriatic arthritis
Treatment of this disease includes following a special diet, which helps to reduce the symptoms of pain and prevent further development of the disease. When organizing a diet, it is worth paying special attention to dairy products, lean meat, vegetables, fruits, herbs, chicken eggs. Nutrition should not be high in calories, but it is recommended to eat foods rich in calcium and phosphorus. Cooking also plays an important role, since steamed dishes are he althier than fried and smoked ones. Fatty foods should be avoided, as well as spicy and s alty foods.
Consider psoriatic arthritis reviews.
Reviews
Given the information obtained from the feedback of patients, this disease is not a very common pathology. It mostly develops in people with psoriasis, but not in every known case. Patients describe this disease as the occurrence of changes in the joints, accompanied by pain, redness and peeling of the skin, degradation of the nail plates.
The reviews also contain a large number ofinformation about the treatment of this bone disease. According to people suffering from this disease, as well as specialists involved in its treatment, the disease is practically incurable, especially in the later stages. In the early stages, you can only stop its development. In general, therapy is based on the use of a variety of anti-inflammatory drugs and hormonal agents that help reduce pain, swelling and stop joint deformity.
We looked at the symptoms and treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Photos were also submitted.
