Psoriatic arthritis: Overcoming the obstacles of early diagnosis and optimal management

Abstract

Psoriatic arthritis: Overcoming the obstacles of early diagnosis and optimal management 1 | CHAR AC TERIS TIC SOFPSORIATIC ARTHRITIS Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic, inflammatory, musculoskeletal disease with high clinical heterogeneity. It is closely correlated with psoriasis (PsO), a skin condition, but not with gender. 1 With the increasing attention and recognition of Chinese rheumatologists and dermatologists, the prevalence rate of PsA among Chinese patients with PsO has significantly increased to approximately 10.4%. 2 However, inadequate awareness of the disease (by both physicians and patients), delay in the first visit, and definitive diagnosis in patients with PsA will likely lead to an underestimation of the prevalence. 3 The clinical presentation of patients with PsA is variable, including peripheral arthritis, spondylitis, enthesitis, dactylitis, PsO, psoriatic nail disease, and extra-articular manifestations (uveitis and inflammatory bowel disease). 4 Unfortunately, when PsA patients were affected by metabolic syndrome, gout, hypertension, diabetes, atherosclerosis, or cardiovascular disease, the risk of death was significantly increased, posing a significant threat to the quality of life, function, and work productivity. 5-7 2 | CON S EN SUSANDG U IDELINE SFOR CLINI C ALD IAG NOS ISANDTRE ATMENT The Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR) require patients to fulfill the prerequisite of presenting with inflammatory arthritis manifestations. 8 Complementarily, musculoskeletal ultrasonography is considered one of the most sensitive techniques for detecting clinical/subclinical inflammation and aiding in early clinical diagnosis. 9 The diagnostic efficacy of CASPAR criteria is further AUTH O RCO NTR I B UTI O N S Ranran Yao and An-Ping Huo prepared the manuscript. Yin Su and Yuan Jia designed, reviewed, and edited the manuscript.