Arthritis – Psoriatic or Rheumatoid?

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Arthritis – Psoriatic or Rheumatoid?

Thursday, April 3rd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

There are over 100 types of arthritis. Many of them come with similar symptoms and it can be very difficult to properly diagnose similar types of arthritis. Psoriatic or rheumatoid is a question that is often asked by individuals because there are many similarities between the two, especially when dealing with a symmetrical case of psoriatic arthritis. Even doctors tend to believe they are dealing with rheumatoid arthritis in this case and there is a need for more tests and analysis in order to realize which one is visible in a particular case. The good news is that there are many differences that are usually easy to spot. On the other hand, the two conditions might look alike in some remote cases but treatment solutions are very similar.

The most obvious difference between the two types of arthritis, psoriatic and rheumatoid, stands in the fact that psoriasis is usually seen in patients suffering from psoriatic arthritis. This obvious skin condition will make it very easy to differentiate between the two. The problem is that not all individuals suffering from psoriatic arthritis will also be affected by psoriasis.

The stiffness and inflammation in joints noticed in both psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis cases are similar because they are both caused by a type of erosive inflammatory arthritis. In fact, the definition of both disease state that they are inflammatory diseases. Although joint affection is similar, there are usually differences in the joint pattern affected by the arthritis. Psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis tend to attack them in different ways. Psoriatic arthritis will cause deformities, inflammation, stiffness and pain in random joints, usually the DIP joints of toes and fingers, those that are already affected by psoriatic nail changes. Rheumatoid arthritis on the hand will attack major joints of the body in a symmetrical fashion. This means that if one knee shows symptoms of arthritis, the other one will as well. Unfortunately, there are also cases of psoriatic arthritis that will affect the human body in a symmetrical fashion. On the other hand, it is very rare that we would be dealing with symmetrical psoriatic arthritis that is identical with rheumatoid arthritis and we do not also have skin lesions that are linked to psoriasis to differentiate the two. If this is the case, there are still special lab tests and x-rays to be performed in order to provide a proper diagnosis.

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