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PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS
WHAT IS PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS?
Psoriatic arthritis can be described as a form of arthritis which is accompanied by psoriasis, a skin disease characterized by red patches covered with gray/silvery scales. The arthritic side of this condition is very similar to rheumatoid arthritis, except that rheumatoid nodules (sometimes a feature of RA) are absent. In addition, the rheumatoid factor (a special type of antibody often found elevated in the blood of patients with RA) is not present in the patient's blood. In patients with this condition psoriasis of the skin almost always precedes the arthritic condition.
Who Is At Risk Of Getting Psoriatic Arthritis?
This disease affects both men and women equally and the onset is usually between the ages of 20 to 50 years old.
It is believed that with this condition there is a strong hereditary predisposition but infection and changes in environment can also have an effect on one's chances of becoming afflicted. 
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