Psoriatic arthritis is diagnosed by what medical technique?

Psoriatic arthritis is a common disease, causing many bad effects on the health of patients. Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis to have appropriate treatment before the disease progresses is a very important factor.

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory joint disease related to psoriasis. With this disease, any joint in the body is at risk of inflammation, especially the lower extremities, spine, knuckles and feet.
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease, so certain medications, skin injuries, infections, weakened immune systems ... are factors that increase the likelihood of the disease.
The age group most affected by psoriatic arthritis is from 50-70 years old, the ratio between men and women is similar. Psoriatic arthritis will cause many effects on the patient, including:
Impact on the bone and joint system; Causes cartilage damage; Impact on the immune system; Having some diseases of the digestive tract; Effects on the heart; Causes many negative mental and psychological problems of the patient. Based on clinical symptoms as well as the impact of the disease, psoriatic arthritis is classified as follows:
Rheumatoid arthritis: Occupying 80% of patients, inflammatory joints are usually large joints; Symmetrical peripheral arthritis: accounting for 25% of the total number of patients; Axial arthritis in the spine and sacroiliac joints: accounted for 10% of the total number of patients; Arthritis of the distal intervertebral joints: accounted for 10% of the total number of patients; Severe deforming peripheral arthritis: accounted for 5% of total patients.

Psoriatic arthritis progresses in different episodes, so the signs of the disease will not be the same. Some signs and symptoms of the disease often appear such as:
Tendonitis, tendonitis of the heel, fingers or toes. Stiff joints, thereby causing many difficulties for patients in daily activities, especially in the morning. When psoriatic arthritis affects the spine or pelvis, it makes it difficult for the patient to move and function. Fingers and legs rough, discolored, flaking and indented; Patients with conjunctivitis, uveitis or heart valve disease....

To diagnose psoriatic arthritis, the doctor will conduct a clinical examination to distinguish it from other diseases. However, in order to determine the diagnosis as well as assess the progression, the stage of the lesion and find the appropriate treatment, the doctor will assign the patient to perform an anti-CCP test to rule out anti-CCP. other diseases of the joints. Then, ask the patient to perform diagnostic imaging methods such as:
X-ray: This is the traditional method for diagnosing psoriatic arthritis with the advantage of being affordable. X-rays are most effective when the disease is advanced and the bones are damaged. At the beginning of the disease, bones and joints are not affected much, so X-rays do not bring many positive results. Therefore, the doctor will assign the patient to perform other methods to confirm the diagnosis. MRI: This is a method that gives the doctor more picture information about the disease than the X-ray method. With this technique, your doctor can examine bones, soft tissues, tendons, and ligaments. Ultrasound: An ultrasound technique can help diagnose psoriasis before symptoms of inflammation become apparent. Your doctor will detect changes in your bones and tissues during the ultrasound.

Currently, there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, doctors can only help patients relieve symptoms as well as minimize the development of the disease by the following methods:
Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS; Inflammation-reducing steroid injections; Surgery to replace damaged joints. During the course of treatment, the patient should be subjected to periodic tests, unscheduled tests as well as lifestyle changes to minimize damage to the joints, adhere to an anti-inflammatory diet that The doctor gives and regularly exercises, playing gentle sports. In summary, psoriatic arthritis is not a rare disease, however, patients are often subjective and ignore the examination, thereby making it difficult to treat. To minimize the effects that psoriatic arthritis causes, patients need to go to a reputable hospital to conduct examination and treatment as soon as there are signs of onset.
Currently, Vinmec International General Hospital is one of the top quality hospitals in the country, trusted by a large number of patients for medical examination and treatment. Not only the physical system, modern equipment: 6 ultrasound rooms; 4 DR X-ray rooms (1 full-axis, 1 intensifier, 1 synthesizer and 1 mammogram); 2 portable X-ray machines DR; 2 multi-row computer tomography rooms with receivers (1 128 rows and 1 16 rows); 2 rooms for magnetic resonance imaging (1 machine 3 Tesla and 1 machine 1.5 Tesla); 1 room for 2 levels of interventional angiography and 1 room to measure bone mineral density.... Vinmec is also the place where a team of experienced doctors and nurses will gather a lot of support in diagnosis and detection. early signs of abnormality in the patient's body. In particular, with a space designed according to 5-star hotel standards, Vinmec ensures to bring the patient the most comfort, friendliness and peace of mind.