Are there tests for psoriatic arthritis?

[jiml]

A few months ago I noticed my feet were hurting when I get out of bed, it took a few minutes to get them going. I also noticed my knuckles were quite painful most of the time, the pain is bearable but I know it's there constantly, my finger nails have always been striated and pitted .

My dermatologist looked and referred me to a rheumatologist who had a look last month without giving me any clues, but arranged to have an ultrasound scan of my hands.

I've been for the scan today and the scan showed some arthritis,
I asked if it was psoriatic arthritis and she said and the doctor who looked were noncommittal, so I have come away not much wiser
My appointment with the rheumatologist is not till July and I was wondering if the ultrasound was a good test for psoriatic arthritis or if there are other tests needed ?

[Fred]

I've never had an ultrasound test for psoriatic arthritis so I don't know.

My dermatologist and rheumatologist both said they could tell by just looking at my finger nails and prodding me about a bit. Nails apparently are a good indicator of psoriatic arthritis.

Bloods can show inflammation changes but I'm not sure it can tell the difference between psoriasis inflammation and psoriatic arthritis inflammation.

I've never had a specific test for psoriatic arthritis but my dermatologist and rheumatologist have both confirmed I have it. Oh and I know I have it without anyone confirming it for me.

[jiml]

I've never had an ultrasound test for psoriatic arthritis so I don't know.

My dermatologist and rheumatologist both said they could tell by just looking at my finger nails and prodding me about a bit. Nails apparently are a good indicator of psoriatic arthritis.

Bloods can show inflammation changes but I'm not sure it can tell the difference between psoriasis inflammation and psoriatic arthritis inflammation.

I've never had a specific test for psoriatic arthritis but my dermatologist and rheumatologist have both confirmed I have it. Oh and I know I have it without anyone confirming it for me.  

Thanks Fred it looks as if I have to wait till July and see what the rheumatologist thinks, so it's generally a visual thing with a bit of prodding

I'm hoping if it is psoriatic arthritis that they will increase the dose of my Fumaderm tablets to try to control it

[Caroline]

There are no tests for specifically psoriatic arthritis. It cannot be distinguished between the standard and the normal. There is nothing in your blood that will be very specific for PSA.

Doctors look at your nails, your psoriasis and the inflammation of specifically the small joints in feet and hands. In my hands and feet that was obvious. My nails were totally normal, except for some small white spots.

Furthermore PSA will react to e.g. Fumaderm, but not to some specific rheumatology medications. In that sense PsA is somewhat different.

You might try to use some of the stuff I use, that PEA pure, it suppresses inflammation and is natural. Just for trying.

[jiml]

There are no tests for specifically psoriatic arthritis. It cannot be distinguished between the standard and the normal. There is nothing in your blood that will be very specific for PSA.

Doctors look at your nails, your psoriasis and the inflammation of specifically the small joints in feet and hands. In my hands and feet that was obvious. My nails were totally normal, except for some small white spots.

Furthermore PSA will react to e.g. Fumaderm, but not to some specific rheumatology medications. In that sense PsA is somewhat different.

You might try to use some of the stuff I use, that PEA pure, it suppresses inflammation and is natural. Just for trying.

Thanks for that information Caroline I will look into PEA pure, and might give it a try

[Kat]

My regular doctor sent me to a rheumatologist to see if my arthritis was either psoriatic or rheumatoid. Now I may have misunderstood as they did a blood test and it wasn't until my next visit that it was confirmed that I had neither psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis and that mine was orthopedic. The rhemmy did immediately say that he didn't think it was psoriatic, however he didn't fully commit to that until after the test results. But it could be the test was mostly to rule out rheumatoid and I just misunderstood and it's been over a year now since I had that done. I just seem to recall that the test was to see if I had one or the other. Perhaps they use the blood test as one way to help them diagnose (as Fred said in his post) and that just wasn't explained very well to me.

Good luck Jim!

[D Foster]

My regular doctor sent me to a rheumatologist to see if my arthritis was either psoriatic or rheumatoid.  Now I may have misunderstood as they did a blood test and it wasn't until my next visit that it was confirmed that I had neither psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis and that mine was orthopedic.  The rhemmy did immediately say that he didn't think it was psoriatic, however he didn't fully commit to that until after the test results.  But it could be the test was mostly to rule out rheumatoid and I just misunderstood and it's been over a year now since I had that done.  I just seem to recall that the test was to see if I had one or the other.   Perhaps they use the blood test as one way to help them diagnose (as Fred said in his post) and that just wasn't explained very well to me.

Good luck Jim!

I am fairly sure that many years ago now I was tested to see what arthritis I had and they did it with a blood test like Kat though it was in the dim and distant past.

[jiml]

My regular doctor sent me to a rheumatologist to see if my arthritis was either psoriatic or rheumatoid.  Now I may have misunderstood as they did a blood test and it wasn't until my next visit that it was confirmed that I had neither psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis and that mine was orthopedic.  The rhemmy did immediately say that he didn't think it was psoriatic, however he didn't fully commit to that until after the test results.  But it could be the test was mostly to rule out rheumatoid and I just misunderstood and it's been over a year now since I had that done.  I just seem to recall that the test was to see if I had one or the other.   Perhaps they use the blood test as one way to help them diagnose (as Fred said in his post) and that just wasn't explained very well to me.

Good luck Jim!

I am fairly sure that many years ago now I was tested to see what arthritis I had and they did it with a blood test like Kat though it was in the dim and distant past.

Thanks for your answers I will have to wait until my next appointment in July with the rheumatologist and see what she thinks

[D Foster]

My regular doctor sent me to a rheumatologist to see if my arthritis was either psoriatic or rheumatoid.  Now I may have misunderstood as they did a blood test and it wasn't until my next visit that it was confirmed that I had neither psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis and that mine was orthopedic.  The rhemmy did immediately say that he didn't think it was psoriatic, however he didn't fully commit to that until after the test results.  But it could be the test was mostly to rule out rheumatoid and I just misunderstood and it's been over a year now since I had that done.  I just seem to recall that the test was to see if I had one or the other.   Perhaps they use the blood test as one way to help them diagnose (as Fred said in his post) and that just wasn't explained very well to me.

Good luck Jim!

I am fairly sure that many years ago now I was tested to see what arthritis I had and they did it with a blood test like Kat though it was in the dim and distant past.

Thanks for your answers I will have to wait until my next appointment in July with the rheumatologist and see what she thinks  

Just found this JIm ,must have had a blood test to see what I had not got as opposed to the PsA.

At present there are no definitive guidelines for diagnosing psoriatic arthritis; a doctor will make a diagnosis based on symptoms and medical history, and by ruling out other conditions. Usually, a blood test will be carried out to test for rheumatoid factor (the antibody found in rheumatoid arthritis). This is usually negative in people with psoriatic arthritis, although a positive result can be due to causes other than rheumatoid arthritis. A doctor may also use X Rays, ultrasounds or other scans, such as an MRI to look at the patient’s joints. These scans often show inflammation or areas of new bone growth with poorly-defined edges in people with psoriatic arthritis.

[jiml]

My regular doctor sent me to a rheumatologist to see if my arthritis was either psoriatic or rheumatoid.  Now I may have misunderstood as they did a blood test and it wasn't until my next visit that it was confirmed that I had neither psoriatic or rheumatoid arthritis and that mine was orthopedic.  The rhemmy did immediately say that he didn't think it was psoriatic, however he didn't fully commit to that until after the test results.  But it could be the test was mostly to rule out rheumatoid and I just misunderstood and it's been over a year now since I had that done.  I just seem to recall that the test was to see if I had one or the other.   Perhaps they use the blood test as one way to help them diagnose (as Fred said in his post) and that just wasn't explained very well to me.

Good luck Jim!

I am fairly sure that many years ago now I was tested to see what arthritis I had and they did it with a blood test like Kat though it was in the dim and distant past.

Thanks for your answers I will have to wait until my next appointment in July with the rheumatologist and see what she thinks  

Just found this JIm ,must have had a blood test to see what I had not got as opposed to the PsA.

At present there are no definitive guidelines for diagnosing psoriatic arthritis; a doctor will make a diagnosis based on symptoms and medical history, and by ruling out other conditions. Usually, a blood test will be carried out to test for rheumatoid factor (the antibody found in rheumatoid arthritis). This is usually negative in people with psoriatic arthritis, although a positive result can be due to causes other than rheumatoid arthritis. A doctor may also use X Rays, ultrasounds or other scans, such as an MRI to look at the patient’s joints. These scans often show inflammation or areas of new bone growth with poorly-defined edges in people with psoriatic arthritis.

Thanks Dave that's interesting. I have had an ultrasound scan of my hands and was told there was arthritis there but were noncommittal as to what it might be they said the rheumatologist would interpret the scans with other data, probably blood results and visuals