Psoriatic arthritis is a debilitating and chronic condition accompanying psoriasis (a skin condition characterized by silver plaques and red patches). Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include joint pain and swelling. Most joints in your body can be affected but your hip, spine, wrist and finger joints are the most commonly affected. According to MedlinePlus, 1 out of every 20 people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. If you suspect you suffer from psoriatic arthritis, there are specific ways to diagnose this condition.
Step 1
Get a thorough physical exam. Tell your doctor about your symptoms and she will assess your muscle strength, range of motion and reflexes. Other arthritic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis can be ruled out solely on history and physical examination. This will help establish a clearer diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.
Step 2
Have joint X-rays taken. Your doctor will assess whether there are any degenerative changes. If tumors or fractures are found, your doctor can rule out psoriatic arthritis.
Step 3
Get a joint fluid test. This will help your doctor rule out other medical conditions, such as gout. Your doctor will use a needle to draw fluid from the affected joint. She will study the fluid in the lab and assess whether there are any crystals. For example, the Mayo Clinic states that if there are uric acid crystals present, you suffer from gout rather than psoriatic arthritis.
Step 4
Check your erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and rheumatoid factor (RF) levels. Your doctor will draw your blood and have it analyzed for an elevated ESR and RF. An elevated ESR is an indication that arthritis is present. The lack of RF indicates a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.
Tips and Warnings
- Psoriatic arthritis is a diagnosis of exclusion. Many tests are obtained to rule out other arthritic diseases before psoriatic arthritis can be confirmed.
Things You'll Need
- Joint X-rays
- Joint fluid test
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate blood test
- Rheumatoid factor level blood test
