Arthritis is a term that defines a range of joint diseases that cause joint swelling. Two common forms of this disease, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, can present with similar symptoms, making diagnosis challenging. This blog will highlight the key differences between psoriatic vs. rheumatoid arthritis to aid in understanding and distinguishing between them.
Psoriatic arthritis presents with joint inflammation that typically occurs in people with psoriasis, a skin condition manifesting with red, scaly patches. This can affect any joint in the body and may also cause nail changes, like pitting and detachment. It also frequently presents in an asymmetric pattern.
Rheumatoid arthritis, meanwhile, causes the body’s immune system to attack the lining of the joints. It typically affects small joints first, particularly those of the hands and feet, and typically in a symmetric pattern.
While both have joint inflammation, pain, and swelling, several features differentiate psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. These include their pattern of symptoms, absence of skin and nail changes in rheumatoid arthritis, and laboratory test results. Learn more about these differences by reading our blog.
Psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are two different types of arthritis. These two are both connected to our body’s immune system messing up and attacking our healthy tissues instead, but they have differences that make…
