A clinical profile of psoriatic arthropathy

Objectives Psoriatic arthropathy (PA) is defined as the association of psoriasis of skin and / or nails with peripheral and / or spinal arthropathy and usually with a negative serological test for rheumatoid factor. Patients and methods 50 psoriatic patients with arthropathy and a negative rheumatoid factor were taken for the study. Results Commonest type of joint involvement was distal interphalangeal joint seen in 44% patients followed by asymmetric oligoarthritis in 40% patients, arthritis mutilans in 6% cases and sacroiliac joint involvement in 2% cases. Nail involvement was seen in 60% cases. In most cases (56%) it was skin involvement followed by arthritis. Hypocalcemia was seen in 60% patients and hyperuricemia was seen in 14% patients. Conclusion Distal interphalangeal and asymmetric arthritis are most common types of psoriatic arthropathy. Nail involvement is frequent. Skin disease usually precedes arthropathy