Abstract

ABSTRACT
Objectives: To find out the frequency of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in psoriatic patients in Sulaimania city, and to determine the clinical varieties of psoriatic arthritis in psoriatic patients.
Patients and Methods: A sample of 132 patients with psoriasis attending the dermatology consultation clinic of Sulaimania city from January to July 2008 was included in the study. Patients were evaluated for evidence of arthropathy. All patients were interviewed by using a questionnaire form which was constructed according to CASPAR classification criteria. Arthritic patients were investigated by relevant laboratory tests and radiology (X-ray).
Results: Out of 132 psoriatic patients, 34 cases fulfilled the CASPAR classification criteria for diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis which represents 25.8% of the sample. There was a female predominance (67.6%). Oligoarthritis was the commonest type of psoriatic arthritis, occurred in 29.4%, while isolated involvements of distal interphalangel joints (DIP) and axial skeletal were the least common. Enthesopathy was diagnosed in 58.8%, psoriatic nail lesions were observed in 32.4%, and 73.5% of psoriatic arthritis had extensive skin lesion which express the important relation of joint disease with the extent of skin lesion. Most of the polyarthritis and arthritis mutilans occurred in the age group 50-59, this relation between the severity of joint disease and advancing age was statistically significant.
Conclusion: Nearly one-quarter of psoriatic patients had psoriatic arthritis, females were more affected, and the commonest type of arthritis recorded was oligoarticular type.