Psoriatic Arthritis has Important Connections to Other Diseases

In a major study of patients with psoriatic arthritis, SPARCC has discovered cardiovascular disease occurs with greater frequency in this patient than in the general public. Dr. Dafna Gladman comments: “Physicians now have to be alert to other modifiable factors which might contribute increased risk of heart disease. It also suggests that the importance of controlling arthritis in these patient lies not only in improving the symptoms of joint disease, but that there may be important secondary benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease. We now know that both are important reasons for timely diagnosis and effective treatment for patients with arthritis. These have been the guiding principles of SPARCC.”