Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a long-term inflammatory disease that affects the joints, skin, and nails. While it commonly impacts peripheral joints, it can also cause inflammation in the spine and sacroiliac joints—a condition known as axial PsA (axPsA); however, research on this axial form has been limited, partly because it’s hard to diagnose. There are no specific clinical signs, lab markers, or imaging tests that clearly identify it. Without a clear, agreed-upon definition of axPsA, there are few established guidelines to help doctors treat spinal involvement in PsA. To help address this gap, a group of rheumatology experts reviewed existing studies and used their clinical experience to offer practical guidance for diagnosing and managing axPsA.

Reference: Michelena X, López-Medina C, De Miguel E, et al. How Are We Addressing Axial Psoriatic Arthritis in Clinical Practice? Rheumatol Ther. 2024 Dec;11(6):1441-1456. doi: 10.1007/s40744-024-00722-w. Epub 2024 Oct 18. PMID: 39422869; PMCID: PMC11557781.