Are there tests for psoriatic arthritis?

[Caroline]

Just had a reply after my appointment with the rheumatologist which suggests I have a form of arthritis
The reply is as follows

The ultrasound scan of your hands has shown no active inflammation , but you had erosions on the X-rays of your feet. This suggests there has been inflammation here, if not now then certainly in the past. I know your preference was to increase your Fumaderm dose before considering other medications . As you are aware Fumaderm isn't something I am familiar with, but I know you are due to see Dr **** again in clinic in a couple of weeks time so you could discuss increasing the dose then. I would point out however that there is no good data for using Fumaderm in psoriatic arthritis, and my preference would be to give you methotrexate.
Please let me know if this is something you would go back on . Otherwise I'll see you again in clinical planned

I haven't replied yet as I will try to gather information on Fumaderm supporting me staying on it before I respond
But there's no way I will go back onto the Methotrexate as I have had that experience and got over it

I look forward to any comments

Well it's easy Jim.
The doctor does not know of any data for using Fumaderm in psoriatic arthritis. But he already admitted that he is not familiar with it, so I guess he is totally incompetent of making such a remark. I mean if you know nothing you know nothing and you cannot claim things that you can't know.

Bill and I are both the living examples of the fact that it helps brilliantly for PSA.

You can also suggest that your derm does a phone call to dr. F. Van Loon in the city of Utrecht. He has treated hundreds of patients with DMF, of which no doubt, lots with PSA. If you want I can search for his phone number.
I think that is a very pragmatic approach.

Don't mind Fred, he is hard to convince   , it's no time yet to immediately jump to stelara if the increase of Fumaderm is so obvious.
If it becomes very much worse there is always still time for doing that.

By the way, I am also a bit stiff in the morning, but that disappears in seconds under the shower.