The key difference between ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis is that ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects people that have a particular gene variant known as HLA-B27, while psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects people with psoriasis.
Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are two different types of arthritis conditions. Arthritis is the inflammation or swelling of one or more joints in the body. In these conditions, joint pain and stiffness are the most common symptoms. Arthritis can be treated through specific medicines and therapies.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Ankylosing Spondylitis
3. What is Psoriatic Arthritis
4. Similarities – Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis
5. Ankylosing Spondylitis vs Psoriatic Arthritis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Ankylosing Spondylitis vs Psoriatic Arthritis
What is Ankylosing Spondylitis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects some people with a particular gene variant known as HLA-B27. Ankylosing spondylitis is also an autoimmune disease. Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic condition that specifically affects the spine and other areas of the body. The symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis usually involve back pain and stiffness, pain and swelling in other parts of the body (joints, areas joining a tendon and bone), and extreme tiredness or fatigue. These symptoms tend to develop gradually and may come and go over time. For some people, this condition gets better with time, but for others, it gets worse. Therefore, ankylosing spondylitis is associated with an increased risk of other potentially life-threatening problems like weakening of bones (osteoporosis), spinal fractures, and cardiovascular disease affecting heart and blood vessels.
Figure 01: Ankylosing Spondylitis
Moreover, ankylosing spondylitis can be diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests (X-ray, MRI), and blood tests for the HLA-B27 gene variant. Furthermore, treatment options for ankylosing spondylitis include medications (anti-inflammatory drugs such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and TNF blockers), physical therapy, and surgery for damaged hip joints.
What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects people with psoriasis. It is a chronic condition that can get progressively worse. Psoriatic arthritis affects 1 in 3 people with psoriasis. It normally tends to develop 5 to 10 years after psoriasis is diagnosed. Psoriatic arthritis often affects knees, ankles, hands, and feet. The symptoms of psoriasis arthritis include swollen fingers and toes, foot pain, lower back pain, nail changes, and eye inflammation. The risk factors for psoriasis arthritis include psoriasis, family history, and age (often in adults between 30 to 35). The complications resulting from this condition are arthritis mutilans, deformity and disability, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
Figure 02: Psoriatic Arthritis
Moreover, psoriasis arthritis can be diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests (X-ray, MRI), and laboratory tests (rheumatoid factor (RF) and joint fluid test). Furthermore, treatment options for psoriasis arthritis are medications (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (conventional DMARDs), biologic agents, targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (targeted synthetic DMARDs), physical and occupational therapy, and surgical and other procedures (steroid injections and joint replacement therapy).
What are the Similarities Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis?
- Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are two different types of arthritis conditions.
- Both types of arthritis are autoimmune conditions.
- They are chronic conditions.
- Both types of arthritis are characterized by inflammation and swelling of joints.
- They can be diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests.
- They can be treated through medications, therapies, and surgeries.
What is the Difference Between Ankylosing Spondylitis and Psoriatic Arthritis?
Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects people with a particular gene variant known as HLA-B27, while psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects some people with psoriasis. Thus, this is the key difference between ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, ankylosing spondylitis specifically affects the spine, lower back, and hip joints, while psoriatic arthritis specifically affects the knees, ankles, hands, and feet.
The below infographic presents the differences between ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.
Summary – Ankylosing Spondylitis vs Psoriatic Arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis are two different types of arthritis conditions. They are also autoimmune conditions. Ankylosing spondylitis affects people with a particular gene variant known as HLA-B27, while psoriatic arthritis affects people with psoriasis. So, this is the key difference between ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis.
Reference:
1. “Ankylosing Spondylitis.” NHS Choices, NHS.
2. “Psoriatic Arthritis.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Ankylosing spondylitis – xray of sacrum” By MyArthritis (CC BY-NC 2.0)
2. “Psoriatic arthritis2010” By James Heilman, MD – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia