Epidemiology and Natural History of Psoriatic Arthritis: An Update What Dermatologists Need to Know

Abstract

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can be associated with permanent joint damage and disability. Because patients may be unaware of the association of joint disease with psoriasis, dermatologists play an important role in identifying PsA. In this review, we discuss the natural history and key features of PsA, the epidemiology and hypothesized risk factors for disease, and screening tools that can be used in the dermatology clinic to aid in identifying which patients should be referred to a rheumatologist for further assessment. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York.