title: Analysis of clinical, radiological and laboratory variables in psoriatic arthritis with 25 Japanese patients.
abstract: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has many clinical and radiological manifestations but lacks a specific laboratory marker. The aim of the present study was to identify noteworthy features in PsA patients on routine clinical examinations. The subjects were 25 PsA patients who were classified based on the Classification of Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) criteria. The clinical and radiological findings and laboratory parameters were analyzed by retrospective chart review. On clinical examination, dactylitis was present in 13 (52%) of 25 patients, swollen and/or tender Achilles tendons were present in nine (36%), and sacroiliitis was present in eight (32%). Of the radiological features, juxta-articular new bone formation (JANF) was seen in 12 (48%), extra-articular new bone formation was seen in nine (36%) and sacroiliitis was seen in six (24%). Dactylitis and JANF had the highest prevalence rates. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score, swollen and/or tender joint count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and matrix metalloproteinase-3 were higher in patients with sacroiliitis than in those without sacroiliitis (P < 0.05). Dactylitis, JANF and sacroiliitis may be noteworthy manifestations in Japanese patients with PsA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan. hm4765@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Maejima
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Watarai
authors.forename: Ryouichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aki
authors.forename: Kensei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Katsuoka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D044466:Asian People; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D010012:Osteogenesis; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3