The effect of pregnancy on the onset of psoriatic arthritis.
Pregnancy may be a risk factor for the development of arthritis. The effect of pregnancy and other hormone-associated events on the expression of psoriasis and arthritis was investigated retrospectively in 33 female patients with psoriatic arthritis. Eighteen per cent of patients or 30% of mothers had onset of arthritis within 3 months postpartum. Another 5 patients (15%) had perimenopausal onset of arthritis. No such temporal association was seen with the onset of skin psoriasis. Hormone-associated events appear to be as important modifiers of the arthritis associated with psoriasis as they are for other forms of joint disease.
McHugh
N J
NJ
Wellington Regional Rheumatic Diseases Unit, Hutt Hospital, Lower Hutt, New Zealand.
Laurent
M R
MR
D001168:Arthritis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000503:physiopathology*