| Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis | Symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis | |
|---|---|---|
| Swelling and pain | Yes | Yes |
| Joint stiffness | Worse in the mornings | Worse in the mornings |
| Affected side of the body | Asymmetrical (often affects joints on one side of your body) | Symmetrical (often affects joints on both sides of your body) |
| Fatigue | Yes | Yes |
| Sausage digits (swollen fingers and toes) | Yes | No |
| Nail symptoms | Pitting, crumbling, or splitting from the nailbed | No |
| Skin symptoms | Scaly, itchy patches | Tenderness, redness, and warmth near affected joints; bumps called nodules |
| Other symptoms | Eye inflammation, digestive symptoms | Fever, loss of appetite, lung symptoms, vision changes |
| Symptom pattern | Symptoms come and go in flares | Symptoms come and go in flares |
Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatic arthritis may differ in the part of the joint that becomes inflamed, who they tend to affect, and more.
RA and Psoriatic Arthritis May Affect Different Parts of the Body
Psoriatic arthritis affects areas where your tendons and ligaments meet bone, called the entheses. You may notice pain especially in the bottoms or backs of your feet, along with areas such as:
Rheumatoid arthritis affects the lining of your joints, called the synovium or synovial tissue. RA commonly affects areas such as:
- Wrists
- Hands
- Elbows
- Shoulders
- Feet
- Spine
- Knee
- Jaw
Psoriatic and Rheumatic Arthritis Can Affect Different People
Both conditions affect a similar number of people worldwide. However, each may be more common in different sets of people. Here’s how they compare:
- Rheumatoid arthritis is two to three times more common in women and people assigned female at birth, happening most frequently between the ages of 65 and 80. Older age, smoking tobacco, lung diseases, and periodontitis (severe gum disease) increase your risk.
- Psoriatic arthritis affects both sexes equally, typically beginning in the 30s or 40s. Having psoriasis or extra weight also increases the risk.
Psoriatic Arthritis Won’t Turn Up on Lab Tests
A healthcare provider may take samples of blood and send them to a clinical laboratory for testing during diagnosis. Tests can detect rheumatoid arthritis, but not psoriatic arthritis.
As forms of inflammatory arthritis, psoriatic and rheumatic arthritis have many things in common.
Both Conditions Involve Your Immune System
Researchers understand that both types of arthritis involve irregular immune system activity. Here’s how they compare:
- Psoriatic arthritis: A combination of genes and environmental factors trigger inflammation, leading to psoriatic skin symptoms and joint issues.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: Considered an autoimmune disorder, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues in the joints.
Your Genes Influence Both Types
A family history of either condition raises your risk. Up to half of the people with psoriatic arthritis have at least one parent or sibling with psoriasis. For RA, you’re also more likely to inherit genes from a parent that make you prone to triggers.
Treatments For The Conditions Overlap
Healthcare providers use many of the same medications and lifestyle approaches to treat psoriatic arthritis and RA. Treatments depend on the individual case, including how severe the symptoms are. They may include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Over-the-counter options such as Motrin (ibuprofen) may temporarily relieve pain and swelling.
- Corticosteroids: Providers inject these drugs directly into affected joints to reduce swelling (inflammation).
- Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): Taken by mouth, DMARDs are drugs that act on the immune system to slow the progress of arthritis.
- Biologics: These medications block the activity of certain immune system cells to reduce symptoms.
- Lifestyle changes: Exercise, stress management, weight management, and use of assistive devices can all help make it easier to live with inflammatory arthritis.
You can have psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis at the same time. Studies suggest that up to 30% of people with psoriatic arthritis also have RA. This may be because some of the same cytokines (inflammatory proteins) are involved in both diseases.
Having psoriasis symptoms that occur with joint symptoms means you may likely have psoriatic arthritis. Healthcare providers usually also test for RA in cases of suspected psoriatic arthritis.
If you have symptoms of arthritis—including joint pain, swelling, and limited movement that lasts more than three days—it’s important to call a primary healthcare provider. They may refer you to a specialist for diagnosis or treatment. Specialists for these conditions may include:
- Rheumatologist: A specialist in immune system-related joint diseases.
- Orthopedist: A doctor who treats and performs surgery on joints and bones.
- Podiatrist: A foot and foot joint specialist.
- Physical therapist: A specialist to help you strengthen joints and help them work better.
- Occupational therapist: A specialist who teaches you how to improve motion, minimize joint strain, and reduce pain.
Psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis can both cause joint pain and swelling due to irregular immune system activity. They affect different parts of the joint and may be more common in different sets of people. Psoriatic arthritis often presents with skin or nail psoriasis. They’re distinct conditions, and it’s possible to have both.
Healthcare providers can use diagnostic tests to determine if you have RA and evaluate you for psoriatic arthritis based on your symptoms.
