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How does psoriatic arthritis differ from rheumatoid arthritis?
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Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are distinct conditions with key clinical and diagnostic differences:
- Serology: A primary distinction is that rheumatoid arthritis is typically associated with the presence of rheumatoid factor in the blood, whereas psoriatic arthritis is not.12
- Joint Involvement: Rheumatoid arthritis often affects the same joints symmetrically on both sides of the body. In contrast, psoriatic arthritis has a predilection for the outer joints of the fingers and toes rather than the inner joints.23
- Bone and Tissue Impact: While both cause joint damage, psoriatic arthritis often results in more significant bone destruction. Psoriatic arthritis is also frequently associated with enthesitis (inflammation where tendons or ligaments insert into bone) and dactylitis (swelling of the fingers and toes).21
- Associations: Psoriatic arthritis is linked to the skin condition psoriasis, whereas rheumatoid arthritis is a systemic autoimmune disease that can involve extra-articular sites like the pericardium and small arteries.12