Tahir Jamil Ahmad, Naseema Kapadia, Huma Ali Asghaiz.
Patterns of joint involvement in Psoriasis: An observational study in local population.
J Pak Assoc Derma Jan ;8(3):22-8.

Psoriasis is a common, genetically determined inflammatory and proliferative disease of skin. The characteristic skin lesions consist of chronic, sharply demarcated, erythematous scaly plaques, particularly on the extensor prominences and scalp. Psoriasic arthritis (PsA) is the as sociation of psoriasis of skin or nails with peripheral and/ or spinal arthropathy and usually a negative serological test for rheumatoid factor. Prevalence of PsA varies widely. We carried out this clinical survey to find out the patterns of joint involvement in local psoriatics. All such patients of both sexes and all ages were enrolled from inpatients and outdoor clinic, dermatology department of Allama Igbal Medical College, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore over a period of 20 months. These were thoroughly investigated, recorded and analyzed statistically. Of 387 psoriatics enrolled, 40 showed joint involvement and 38 were rheumatoid factor negative. Asymmetric oligo/mono arthritis was the commonest pattern noted (in 50%), manubriosternal joint involvement rare and cervical spondylosis and temporomandibular joint involvement unseen. Further multicentre studies are advised under joint supervision of dermatologists and rheumatologists for elaborate and comprehensive results on these patterns and involvement of other body joints.

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