Psoriatic Arthritis.

Last updated Monday, December 27, 2004

Symptoms

What are symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?

In general, symptoms of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis include:

• scaly red patches that can appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, and/or the lower end of the backbone (Often, psoriasis may only be a small patch in the scalp. In some people, the rash may cover a good deal of the body.)
• pitting and/or discoloration of fingernails and/or toenails
• pain and swelling in one or more joints, usually the last joints of the fingers or toes, the wrists, knees, or ankles. Some people with psoriatic arthritis may have only one joint affected while in others it may resemble rheumatoid arthritis. The sacroiliac joints and the spine can also be involved. Because of this, psoriatic arthritis belongs to a group of disorders known as the spondyloarthropathies (spondylo = spine; arthropathy = joint disease)
• swelling of fingers and/or toes that gives them a "sausage" appearance

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