Thursday, March 28, 2024

Can Psoriatic Arthritis Affect Your Lungs

Diagnosis Of Psoriatic Arthritis

Living Well with Psoriatic Arthritis

There is no laboratory test for psoriatic arthritis, and the symptoms may closely resemble other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. However, our U-M physicians are experts in recognizing psoriatic arthritis. Blood tests, such as a sedimentation rate test or rheumatoid factor test, may help.

When one or two large joints are inflamed, we can use arthrocentesis to take fluid out of the joints. This fluid is then analyzed for infection, gout and other inflammatory diseases.

Flare Warning: Nail Changes

Another psoriatic arthritis red flag to look out for: Changes in your nail structure, color, or aberrations. Not everyone with PsA will experience this symptom, but others report abnormalities on their finger or toenailsor both. In fact, nail changes are often an early indicator of PsA in general. Studies say that up to 80% of people with psoriatic arthritis experience nail issues, ranging from pitting and discoloration to loosening of the nail plate and subungual hyperkeratosis .

Psoriatic Arthritis And Your Heart

The risk of heart disease may be nearly doubled in people with psoriatic arthritis.

Doctors have long known that heart disease is more common in people who have inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. But they werent sure if this applied to psoriatic arthritis , which is more complex and not nearly as well studied.

Then, in 2016, Canadian researchers published a meta-analysis of studies evaluating cardiovascular disease risk and PsA in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. The results suggested that people with PsA were 43% more likely to have or develop heart disease compared with the general population. PsA patients also had a 22% increased risk of cerebrovascular disease conditions that affect blood flow to the brain.

Alexis Ogdie-Beatty, MD, an associate professor of medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and director of the Penn Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic, says although there were some biases in the studies, everyone concurs there is substantial cardiovascular risk .

Double Jeopardy

risk factors are important, but they dont account for a big part of the risk, which comes from inflammation, Dr. Davis says.

How to Know If Youre at Risk

Protecting Your Heart

Does Treating PsA Reduce Cardiovascular Risk?

It makes sense that drugs that suppress skin and joint inflammation would suppress inflammation in blood vessels, too. But Dr. Ogdie-Beatty says theres lack of good evidence to support that idea.

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How Psoriatic Arthritis Affects The Lungs

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are thought to lead to lung conditions due to inflammation. Inflammation is the bodys response to harmful substances. It is normally how we heal. However, in diseases like psoriasis, the inflammation becomes widespread, affecting healthy tissues.

In psoriatic arthritis, inflammation-causing substances are released into the blood system. These then affect tissues throughout the body.

Ongoing inflammation can produce changes in the structures of the respiratory system, leading to different lung conditions. Depending on how the airways and lungs are affected, various outcomes can occur. Breathing problems can develop when the tissues of the lungs and respiratory system are affected.

Concomitant Interstitial Lung Disease With Psoriasis

Can Arthritis Affect Your Lungs

Genta Ishikawa

Abstract

Background. We encounter interstitial lung disease patients with psoriasis. The aim of this case series was to examine clinical and radiographic characteristics of patients with concomitant psoriasis and ILD. Methods. This is a retrospective review of our institutional experience of ILD concomitant with psoriasis, from the database in the Advanced Lung/Interstitial Lung Disease Program at the Mount Sinai Hospital. Out of 447 ILD patients, we identified 21 with antecedent or concomitant diagnosis of psoriasis. Clinical, radiographic, pathological, and outcome data were abstracted from our medical records. Results. Median age was 66years and 14 were male. Thirteen had not previously or concomitantly been exposed to immunosuppressive therapy directed against psoriasis. Two ultimately died. Clinical diagnosis of ILD included idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, 11 nonspecific interstitial pneumonia , 2 cryptogenic organizing pneumonia, 2 chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis, 2 and the others, while radiographic diagnosis included usual interstitial pneumonia pattern, 9 NSIP pattern, 6 organizing pneumonia pattern, 4 hypersensitivity pneumonitis pattern, 2 and the others. . We report 21 ILD cases with antecedent or concomitant diagnosis of psoriasis. Further prospective studies are required to determine the association between ILD and psoriasis.

1. Introduction

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The Signs Of Psoriatic Arthritis And How To Treat Them

Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the U.S. that affects about 7.5 million Americans.

Psoriasis is the most prevalent autoimmune disease in the U.S. that affects about 7.5 million Americans. Around 30 percent of those with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. This painful disease causes swelling and pain in the joints.

If not treated, psoriatic arthritis can cause permanent joint damage. Lets review the signs of psoriatic arthritis and how to treat these symptoms.

Find Relief From Your Symptoms At Seaside Rheumatology

If you are suffering from the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, you can find relief with effective treatments at Seaside Rheumatology and Wellness Center. Dr. Peter Lloyd takes a patient-centered approach to the care that he provides, and he truly listens to your symptoms, medical history, and preferences when working with you to create a treatment plan. Our office is conveniently located in Encinitas, CA and can be reached at .

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How Is Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosed

There is no single test to diagnose psoriatic arthritis. Healthcare providers make the diagnosis based on a patientâs medical history, physical exam, blood tests, and X-rays of the affected joints. Magnetic resonance imaging is generally not needed except in unusual circumstances.

Laboratory tests that may be helpful in diagnosis or used to monitor disease activity include:

  • Rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP â types of blood tests to help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis.
  • HLA-B27 â blood test to help diagnose, may also be indicated with a family history of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.
  • Sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein â may indicate inflammation.

X-rays are not usually helpful in making a diagnosis in the early stages of the disease. In the later stages, X-rays may show changes that are more commonly seen only in psoriatic arthritis. One such finding is called the âpencil-in-cup,â which describes the finding where the end of the bone gets whittled down to a sharp point. This finding indicates more severe inflammatory changes to joints, which may require more aggressive treatment.

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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Psoriatic Arthritis

COPD is a set of diseases that obstruct airflow in the lungs. This includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Having psoriasis puts you at a higher risk of developing COPD.

This association is greater in those with severe psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Smoking with either of these conditions can make the risk even greater.

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Work And Psoriatic Arthritis

Having psoriatic arthritis may make some aspects of working life more challenging. But, if youre on the right treatment, its certainly possible to continue working.

Help and support is available, and you have rights and options.

The Government scheme Access to Work is a grant that can pay for equipment to help you with activities such as answering the phone, going to meetings, and getting to and from work.

The 2010 Equality Act, and the Disability Discrimination Act in Northern Ireland makes it unlawful for employers to treat anyone with a disability less favourably than anyone else.

Psoriatic arthritis can be classed as a disability if it:

  • makes daily tasks difficult
  • lasts for more than 12 months.

Your employer may need to make adjustments to your working environment, so you can do your job comfortably and safely.

You might be able to change some aspects of your job or working arrangements, or train for a different role.

In order to get the support youre entitled to, youll need to tell your employer about your condition. Your manager or HR department might be a good place to start.

Other available support might include:

  • your workplace occupational health department, if there is one
  • an occupational therapist. You could be referred to one by your GP or you could see one privately
  • disability employment advisors, or other staff, at your local JobCentre Plus
  • a Citizens Advice bureau particularly if you feel youre not getting the support youre entitled to.

Flare Warning: Eye Problems

Although its not a common symptom, some psoriatic arthritis patients report vision problems at the onset of a flare. An eye condition called anterior uveitis is found in 7% of patients who have psoriatic arthritis, says Brian Toy, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist at Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, CA. Your eye doctor will know you have this eye issue by an increase in inflammation around the iris in the middle layer of the eye wall. If your eyes are affected by PsA, its important to consult an eye doctor as well as your rheumatologist.

  • Patchy, raised, red areas of skin inflammation with scaling or silvery patches
  • Swelling of an entire finger or toe that makes it look like a sausage
  • General joint pain, stiffness and swelling
  • Back pain and stiffness
  • Changes in the nails such as pitting or separation from the nail bed
  • Extreme exhaustion that does not go away

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Quick Facts About Psoriatic Arthritis

  • It is a type of chronic inflammatory arthritis
  • Its symptoms can range from being mild to being very painful and damaging to the joints
  • It usually affects the larger joints of the body, such as the leg joints, as well as the fingers and toes, back, and sacroiliac joints
  • It affects up to 30% of people who have skin psoriasis
  • Patients who have psoriasis of the skin are most likely to get psoriatic arthritis, but it can also develop on its own
  • Men and women are equally likely to develop it
  • It usually begins between ages 30-50 but can start in childhood in some people

Data Sources And Searches

Can Psoriatic Arthritis Affect The Lungs

We carried out a systematic literature search with no date limits using PubMed, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials, and Embase. The search was performed to 9 January 2014 . We also searched for previously published meta-analyses and systematic literature reviews. The reference lists of relevant articles were also reviewed.

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Methotrexate Use And Risk Of Lung Disease In Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis And Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Systematic Literature Review And Meta

  • Richard Conway, rheumatology specialist registrar12,
  • Candice Low, rheumatology registrar3,
  • Robert J Coughlan, consultant rheumatologist1,
  • Martin J ODonnell, professor2,
  • John J Carey, consultant rheumatologist12
  • 1Department of Rheumatology, Galway University Hospitals, Galway, Republic of Ireland
  • 2National University of Ireland Galway, Galway, Republic of Ireland
  • 3Department of Rheumatology, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Dublin, Republic of Ireland
  • Correspondence to: R Conway Department of Rheumatology, Galway University Hospitals, Merlin Park, Galway, Ireland drrichardconwaygmail.com
    • Accepted 4 February 2015

    Comparison With Other Studies

    Studies of respiratory adverse events in rheumatoid arthritis are confounded by the propensity for patients to develop pulmonary complications of their underlying disease, including interstitial lung disease, pleural effusions, pulmonary nodules, and infections.1213 While cases of interstitial lung disease in psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, Crohns disease, and ulcerative colitis have been reported, these are uncommon.2027282930313233 Some occurred in patients who were not receiving methotrexate at the onset of their lung disease,273233 whereas others were reported as being due to methotrexate or leflunomide, or both.2028293031 The inclusion of only double blind randomised controlled trials reduces the potential ascertainment bias resulting from the existing perception that methotrexate causes interstitial lung disease. A single case of pneumonitis due to methotrexate was reported in one paper without further details as to how this conclusion was reached. Our study has a large number of patients who used methotrexate, and the lack of other cases suggests this could also be a chance occurrence.

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    The Psoriatic Arthritis And Heart Health Connection

    According to a meta-analysis in the journal Arthritis Care and Research, people with psoriatic arthritis were 43 percent more likely to have or develop heart disease compared with the general population. They also had a 31 percent higher risk of heart failure.

    The reason patients are at risk is not entirely known, says Dr. Ritchlin. People with psoriatic arthritis more commonly develop metabolic syndrome a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease and other health problems. But there are patients with psoriatic arthritis who do not have metabolic syndrome and are still at an increased risk for heart events, he says.

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    Symptoms Of Psoriatic Arthritis

    Psoriatic Arthritis Signs and Symptoms | Johns Hopkins Medicine
    • Patchy, raised, red areas of skin inflammation with scaling or silvery patches
    • Swelling of an entire finger or toe that makes it look like a sausage
    • General joint pain, stiffness and swelling
    • Back pain and stiffness
    • Changes in the nails such as pitting or separation from the nail bed
    • Extreme exhaustion that does not go away

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    What Is Psoriatic Arthritis Video

    Psoriatic arthritis can cause pain, swelling and stiffness inand around your joints.

    It usually affects 3 in 10 people who already have the skin condition psoriasis .

    Psoriasis causes patches of red, flaky skin which is covered with silvery-like patches.

    Some people may develop psoriatic arthritis before the psoriasis is even present. In rare cases people have psoriatic arthritis and never have any noticeable patches of psoriasis.

    Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis are both autoimmune conditions, caused by a fault in the immune system.

    Our immune system protects us from illness and infection. But in autoimmune conditions, the immune system becomes confused and attacks healthy parts of the body, often causing inflammation.

    Psoriatic arthritis is a type of spondylarthritis. This is a group of conditions with some similar symptoms.

    People with psoriasis are as likely as anyone else to get othertypes of arthritis, such asosteoarthritisorrheumatoid arthritis. Theseconditionsare not linkedto psoriasis.

    What Happens When Someone Has Jia

    People with JIA may have pain and stiffness that can change from day to day or from morning to afternoon. These symptoms can come and go. When the condition becomes more active and the symptoms worsen, it’s known as a “flare” or a “flare-up.”

    JIA often causes only minor problems, but in some cases it can cause serious joint damage or limit growth. Although JIA mostly affects the joints and surrounding tissues, it can also affect other organs, like the eyes, liver, heart, and lungs.

    JIA is a condition, meaning it can last for months and years. Sometimes the symptoms just go away with treatment, which is known as remission. Remission may last for months, years, or a person’s lifetime. In fact, many teens with JIA eventually enter full remission with little or no permanent joint damage.

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    The Link Between Psoriatic Arthritis And Kidney Disease

    • Serum creatinine levels in the blood, a waste product of muscular activity
    • Urea, a waste product produced by your liver from the digestion of protein
    • Phosphate, an electrolyte

    Normally, the kidneys filter out these substances from the blood to maintain levels within a healthy range.

    When the kidneys donât function properly, serum creatinine, urea, and phosphate will stay in the blood and cause higher-than-normal levels, which indicate kidney disease or malfunctioning. Elevated levels of protein in the blood are also commonly seen when the kidneys are not functioning properly.

    The level of serum creatinine in your blood as well as your age, gender, and race all factor in to your glomerular filtration rate, which is another marker of healthy kidney functioning. If serum creatinine levels are elevated, your glomerular filtration rate will be lower since the kidneys are not effectively filtering out creatinine from the blood.

    A 2017 epidemiological study examined markers of kidney function among patients with psoriatic arthritis, patients with psoriasis, and healthy control subjects. This study revealed that levels of serum creatinine, urea, and phosphate were all elevated in patients with psoriasis compared to healthy subjects, but levels were highest among the patients with psoriatic arthritis.

    Stay In Constant Touch With Your Doctor

    Pin on Arthritis

    If you are suffering from RA, it is important for you to visit your doctor at regular intervals. This will not only help your doctor to check the progression of the disease, but will also help you detect and prevent lung complications that might be arising due to RA. Timely detection and treatment can prevent lung infections from worsening or turning fatal.

    At EPIC Health, we can help you manage your rheumatoid arthritis and prevent it from causing chronic lung infections. Our expert primary care physicians carry out a number of health screenings to evaluate the extent of your disease progression and prevent RA from causing lung infections or other heath complication.

    Schedule an appointment at EPIC Health today! We can help you live happy, healthy and better.

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    Effects On The Immune System

    PsA is an autoimmune condition, which means that it influences the way that the immune system works. The immune system fights pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses. In someone with an autoimmune condition, it mistakenly attacks healthy cells.

    In a person with PsA, the immune system attacks the joints, tendons, and the insertion points of tendons and ligaments. If a person also has psoriasis, it also affects the skin.

    Researchers do not fully understand why this happens. They think that some bacterial infections, including strep throat, may trigger PsA. In addition, if a person has a genetic susceptibility, they may develop PsA as a result of severe stress, a physical injury, or an event that causes the immune system to react strongly.

    720% of people with psoriasis develop uveitis, and it is more common in people who have PsA than in those who have psoriasis alone.

    Uveitis is a group of diseases related to eye inflammation. Without treatment, it can lead to vision loss. People with PsA should have regular eye exams for this reason.

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