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Psoriatic Arthritis (cont.)
William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.
In this Article
- Psoriatic arthritis facts
- What is psoriatic arthritis?
- What causes psoriatic arthritis?
- What are psoriatic arthritis symptoms and signs?
- How does the doctor diagnose psoriatic arthritis?
- What is the treatment for psoriatic arthritis?
- Disease-modifying medications
- What is the outlook (prognosis) for patients with psoriatic arthritis?
- Can psoriatic arthritis be prevented?
- What does the future hold for patients with psoriatic arthritis?
- Find a local Rheumatologist in your town
What is the outlook (prognosis) for patients with psoriatic arthritis?
With aggressive treatment and monitoring of both the skin and the joints, patients can have an excellent outcome. It is particularly important to begin treatments early in the course of the arthritis for best results.
Can psoriatic arthritis be prevented?
There is no method to prevent psoriatic arthritis. It is best to treat the skin optimally. If treatments are under way and the disease is controlled, recurrence of disease does often occur when treatments are discontinued.
What does the future hold for patients with psoriatic arthritis?
The future treatment of psoriatic arthritis will evolve as more effective and safe medicines are developed. Recently, it has been shown that vitamin D might actually improve the arthritis of psoriatic arthritis. Other areas of research involve treatment with medications that can alter the immune system of patients with psoriatic arthritis. An example of a biologic medication with promise includes ustekinumab (Stelara), which is currently in use for psoriasis. As the immune system changes and genetics are better defined in this illness, the efficacy of these medical treatments will improve.
For more information about psoriatic arthritis, please visit the following site:
National Psoriasis Foundation/USA (http://www.psoriasis.org/)
REFERENCES:
Klippel, J.H., et al. Primer on the Rheumatic Diseases. 13th ed. New York: Springer, 2008.
Koopman, William, et al., eds. Clinical Primer of Rheumatology. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2003.
Ruddy, Shaun, et al., eds. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2001.
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