title: An update on the diagnosis and management of psoriatic arthritis.
abstract: Psoriasis is a common inflammatory disease with complex genetic background affecting approximately 2-3% of the population in the Western hemisphere. Around 20% of psoriasis patients also suffer from psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The clinical spectrum comprises a wide variety of arthritic manifestations ranging from dactylitis, peripheral symmetric or asymmetric mono-, oligo-, and polyarticular arthritis, spinal disease and enthesitis. As psoriasis precedes PsA in 75-80% of affected patients, dermatologists might play a pivotal role in early diagnosis of the disease. Furthermore, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning and ultrasonography have improved the radiological diagnosis of peripheral PsA, psoriatic spondylarthropathy and enthesitis. Besides the traditional treatment of PsA the introduction of biologics has led to a significant improvement in the treatment of the disease. To further improve diagnosis, treatment and quality of life in our patients suffering from PsA an excellent interdisciplinary collaboration between dermatologists, radiologists and rheumatologists is a necessity of utmost importance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria. wolfgang.weger@klinikum-graz.at
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Weger
mesh_terms: D000077944:Alefacept; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D015236:HLA-C Antigens / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053759:Interleukin-23 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013585:Synovitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen; D015236:HLA-C Antigens; C528994:HLA-C*06 antigen; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D053759:Interleukin-23; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000077944:Alefacept