What Happens if Psoriatic Arthritis Goes Untreated?
Psoriatic arthritis may start with more mild symptoms at times, but it can progress.
The joint pain caused by psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be very painful on its own. Some people find that it prevents them from fully participating in life. It may be painful to engage in their usual activities, to exercise, to go to work, or to even get out of bed.
However, without treatment, PsA can cause even more problems. Treatment for PsA aims not only to reduce PsA symptoms, but also to reduce the risk of complications caused by uncontrolled inflammation in the body.
- Elizabeth Schulman, MDDr. Schulman is a rheumatologist and assistant attending physician at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
References
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Haddad, A., et al. (2017). Comorbidities in patients with psoriatic arthritis. Rambam Maimonides Medical Journal.
National Institute of Mental Health. (2021). Chronic illness and mental health: recognizing and treating depression.
Rosenblat, J. D., et al. (2014). Inflamed moods: a review of the interactions between inflammation and mood disorders. Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.
Singh, J. A., et al. (2019). 2018 American College of Rheumatology/National Psoriasis Foundation guideline for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Arthritis & Rheumatology.
Verhoeven, F., et al. (2020). Cardiovascular risk in psoriatic arthritis, a narrative review. Joint Bone Spine.