PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS IN 300 PSORIATIC PATIENTS IN IMA M REZA HO SPITAL, MASH H AD UNIVERSITY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

In order to study the prevalence of psoriatic arthritis in Imam Reza Hospital and determine the effects of factors like age, sex, familial history, type of skin involvement, nail involvement and duration of disease on psoriatic arthritis, 300 psoriatic patients over a period of 4 years were admitted and examined in the Department of Dermatology and Rheumatology in Imam Reza Teaching Hospital, (MUMS). A special form was designed for collecting needed data (data collection sheet). Statistical analysis was done on these data. In the studied population, the prevalence of psoritaic arthritis was 16.6%. T he most common involved joints were the wrist and fingers (52%). Asymmetrical peripheral oligoarthritis was the most prevalent type of joint involvement. Most of the patients were between the 3rd and 4th decades of life. Familial history was positive in 20% of psoriatic patients and 18% of psoriatic arthritis. From a clinical point of view 78% of psoriatic arthritis patients had psoriasis vulgaris. Nail involvement in this group was seen in 72%. Nail pitting was present in 68%. In general, the vulgaris type was seen in 89.2% and nail involvement in only 42.8%. In conclusion, psoriatic arthritis was present in 16.6% of 300 patients with psoriasis. It is recommended that joint and spine exams be performed in all cases of psoriasis, especially those with nail involvement.