Glossary

Autoimmune disease – A disease that triggers the immune system to react against the body’s own tissues and to produce abnormal antibodies that attack these tissues.

Balneotherapy – Refers to the use of water treatments such as hot springs, mineral water or sea water to relieve psoriasis symptoms such as itching, scaling and skin irritation.

Biopsy – The surgical removal of tissue samples for pathological examination.

Climatotherapy – the use of a combination of sun exposure and water therapy to treat psoriasis symptoms

Conjunctivitis – An inflammation of the thin membrane lining the eyelid and covering the front of the eye. Can be caused by a virus, bacteria, or allergic reaction. Also called pinkeye.

Dactylitis – Inflammation of a finger or toe.

Diabetes – Affects blood sugar levels and usually begins with severely elevated or diminished blood sugar levels. The disease affects insulin production or interferes with the effect of insulin on cells.

ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) – ESR is measured via a routine blood test and can help diagnose certain types of arthritis. ESR represents the distance (in millimeters) that red blood cells settle in unclotted blood toward the bottom of a specially marked test tube.

Gout – A disabling form of arthritis found most often in the feet – specifically the big toe – and occasionally in other joints. Symptoms include intense episodes of joint pain and swelling, which often happen at night, followed by pain-free periods.

Hypertension – A common disorder characterized by high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the pressure exerted against arterial walls and is considered high if it exceeds 140/90.

Immune system – The human body’s system of protection against invaders such as bacteria, viruses, foreign tissues, and germs. The immune system produces antibodies to combat what it deems an invading agent.

Immune-mediated – Refers to a disorder that causes inflammation of tissue (such as skin or muscle) or joints and is likely triggered by autoimmune dysfunction.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – An imaging technique that produces high-quality images of the inside of the human body.

Onycholysis – A symptom of nail psoriasis, onycholysis causes a lifting or separating of the nail from the nail bed.

Onychomycosis – A fungal infection associated with nail psoriasis that causes a thickening of the nail.

Osteoarthritis – The most common form of arthritis. It is caused by degeneration of the joint cartilage and causes pain and stiffness in the neck, lower back, knees, hips, hands, and feet. It is most often a disease of the aging, although there are juvenile forms of the disease.

Phototherapy – A psoriasis treatment that employs either natural or artificial UV light to treat psoriatic plaques and lesions.

Psoriasis – An inflammation of the skin caused by the overproduction of outer skin cells. As a result, itchy, scaly red patches appear, often on the elbows, hands, feet, and scalp.

Psoriatic Arthritis – Chronic arthritis associated with psoriasis and most common in people with psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis causes pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints and likely stems from immune system malfunction.

Types:

Symmetric arthritis
This is the most common type of psoriatic arthritis, representing 50% of all cases. Symmetric means the symptoms occur on both sides of the body. Symptoms are similar to rheumatoid arthritis and include joint pain, swelling, and stiffness, but symptoms tend to be less severe than rheumatoid arthritis. If left untreated, however, symmetric arthritis can still cause permanent joint damage.
Asymmetric arthritis
This is the second most common type of psoriatic arthritis and is usually milder. Symptoms occur on only one side of the body. A smaller number of joints may be affected, and the inflamed joints sometimes look red. Affected joints may include the hip, knee, ankle, or wrist. Joints often appear tender and red. Inflamed fingers and toes resemble small sausages.
Distal interphalangeal predominant (DIP)
DIP is a less common form of psoriatic arthritis and affects mostly men. It affects the joints close to the fingernails and toenails. The nails are often affected by this condition. DIP is sometimes misdiagnosed as osteoarthritis. Changes to fingernails and toenails, however, can distinguish DIP from osteoarthritis.
Spondylitis
Spondylitis can make movement painful, especially in the neck and back. It can also cause inflammation of the spinal column. If left untreated, this disease can cause severe pain and difficulty of movement and symptoms grow increasingly worse as the condition progresses.
Arthritis mutilans
A small percentage of people with psoriatic arthritis have arthritis mutilans, which is often a debilitating and destructive form of psoriatic arthritis. It often affects the hands and feet and occasionally the back and neck. Over time, arthritis mutilans can destroy the small bones in the hands, which can result in permanent deformity.

Psoriatic diseases – Diseases associated with psoriasis that generally affect people with psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis is linked to psoriasis, as is Crohn’s disease, an inflammation of the colon or small intestines.

Rheumatoid Arthritis – A chronic disease that causes pain, stiffness, and swelling and limited range of motion in multiple joints. It is the most common type of arthritis associated with autoimmune disorder.

Scales – A silvery white buildup of dead skin cells that cover patches of skin affected by psoriasis.

Synovial joint fluid analysis – A diagnostic test wherein fluid lining the joints and tendons is extracted and examined to help diagnose and treat joint-related inflammation and other abnormalities. A sterile needle is inserted into the joint space through the skin, and fluid is aspirated through the needle. The fluid is then examined in a laboratory for blood cells, crystals, and bacteria.

X-ray – In x-ray imaging, rays with a shorter wavelength than those of visible light are used to make images of bones and joints. The doctor uses these x-ray images to help diagnose injuries and causes of bone and joint pain.

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