Nails best predictor of psoriatic arthritis.

[Fred]

It's been known for a long time that our nails play an important part in the detection of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and this study looks like it confirms that.

Quote:

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Background:
Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) suffer from increased burden of disease and impairments in quality of life. Early detection and treatment of PsA could contribute to the prevention of clinical and radiological progression.

Objectives:
To analyse the predictive value of clinical and patient-reported outcomes for concomitant PsA in a population-based cohort of patients with psoriasis.

Methods:
We performed a retrospective analysis of data from three independent national cross-sectional studies on health care in psoriasis and PsA, conducted in Germany in the years 2005, 2007 and 2008. Patients with psoriasis were included in the study by dermatologists (n = 3520) and via the German patient advocacy group for psoriasis (n = 2449). In all studies, psoriasis history, clinical findings, PsA, nail involvement, health care and patient-reported outcomes were collected with standardized questionnaires.

Results:
In the regression model on 4146 patients the strongest predictors for concomitant PsA were nail involvement [odds ratio (OR) 2·93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2·51–3·42, P < 0·001] and inpatient hospital treatment (OR 1·63, 95% CI 1·38–1·93, P < 0·001). By contrast, scalp involvement was not a significant predictor.

Conclusions:
Patients with psoriasis seen by dermatologists and those in patient advocacy groups show clinical indicators of PsA, the most predictive being nail disease. In practice, a comprehensive assessment of clinical findings associated with PsA is needed.

Source: onlinelibrary.wiley.com

[jiml]

Another interesting studyy which should prove valuable to dermatologists /rheumatologists in the detection of PsA in psoriatic patients.
But it's not true in every case but at least it will give them a reason to reach out for more tests.
Myself I have nail psoriasis in as much as I have one nail that always splits or grows split and most of the others have striations which is typical. And yet I've never suffered joint problems......up to now
Keep the studies coming they all help in the fight against this disease

[Fred]

Myself I have nail psoriasis in as much as I have one nail that always splits or grows split and most of the others have striations which is typical. And yet I've never suffered joint problems......up to now

Yes nails can split and look pitted with just psoriasis, but they do get a lot worse and will come away from the bed more with psoriatic arthritis.

For anyone interested there are some images to be found here: Nail Psoriasis