Obtaining a full family history is also important the CASPAR criteria identify a family history of psoriasis as an important element in the diagnosis of PsA. Obtaining a full family…Ī history of severe dandruff may be indicative of scalp psoriasis that has never been formally diagnosed. Patients may never have had a specific diagnosis of psoriasis, so careful questioning for any history of scaly rash or nail changes is important.Ī history of severe dandruff may be indicative of scalp psoriasis that has never been formally diagnosed. Most patients will present with skin disease long before they develop joint disease, but one must always remember that up to 10% of patients will present with joint symptoms before developing skin psoriasis. One of the first tasks in making a diagnosis of PsA is establishing a diagnosis of psoriasis. HistoryĪ careful medical history will often identify a likely case of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) even before the physical exam.
As with most other medical conditions, the proper diagnosis depends on a combination of history, clinical exam, laboratory findings and imaging. The diagnostic evaluation of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be challenging, as there are often no specific laboratory or clinical findings.
