Psoriatic arthritis treatment primarily centers around symptom control rather than cure. There is no cure for either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, but there are effective treatments for both the skin and joints. Topical therapies are the first line of treatment for psoriatic skin diseases. From there, it becomes a matter of treating the symptoms at various levels.
NSAIDs
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, or NSAIDs, are predominately, but not exclusively, oral medications used to treat pain by reducing the body's inflammatory response that occurs from a wide array of factory such as injury, infection, arthritis and auto-immune diseases; those diseases in which the body literally attacks itself. Examples of this classification of drugs can include, aspirin, ibuprofen and indomethacin.
Over time, newer varieties of NSAIDs have been developed, mainly to reduce the unwanted side effect of damage to the inner lining of the stomach from long term use. The newer drugs, called Cox2 inhibitors, are meant to achieve the same inflammation-reducing results as the earlier generation of NSAIDs, but protect the stomach lining at the same time.
Steroids
Steroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents that can be administered either orally or by injection. Cortisone, a common description of steroids, occurs naturally in the human body, and is produced by the adrenal glands that sit atop the kidneys.
Because of their powerful anti-inflammatory capabilities, use of steroids can be an extremely successful treatment option. The powerful inflammation-suppressing effects of steroids are also its main downfall, in that steroids also severely suppress the body's own immune system, increasing vulnerability to infection.
DMARDs
DMARDs, or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, are used to suppress joint inflammation by way of suppressing the body's immune system. By suppressing the immune system, the inflammatory response by the body to those stimuli that produce inflammation, is also suppressed. This classification of drugs has been used successfully in other areas such as cancer treatment and anti-rejection medications for organ transplant recipients.
TNF Inhibitors
TNF Inhibitors, tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, are also called biologic medications. They are also used in the treatment of inflammation and pain associated with psoriatic arthritis. Tumor Necrosis Factor, of TNF, is a chemical substance found in the body that has been identified as a triggering factor in development of psoriasis as well as psoriatic arthritis. TNF-inhibitors function as the name implies, by inhibiting the effects of tumor necrosis factors on joint inflammation and propagation; furthering of the disease. Examples of FDA approved TNF inhibitor agents are Etanercept, or Enbrel, and Infliximab, or Remicade.
References
- Up to Date: Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment
- British Journal of Rheumatology: Therapy for Psoriatic Arthritis
- National Psoriasis Foundation: Treating Psoriatic Arthritis: DMARDs
- Med Com Depot: TNF Inhibitors in Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
- The Mayo Clinic: Psoriatic Arthritis; Treatments and Drugs
