Major Finding in Genetic Basis of Psoriatic Arthritis

The arthritis which occurs in those with psoriasis has been recognized to be a serious form of joint disease which can lead to chronic pain and disability. A study by SPARCC has discovered that a gene associated with AS is also strongly associated with psoriatic arthritis. Dr. Photon Rahman comments: “This is a major advancement in psoriatic arthritis for two reasons. First, it provides an important new understanding of the mechanisms underlying the inflammation in the skin and the joints. Secondly, it suggests that treatments directed at this gene (IL-23 receptor) may be very effective in treating this form of arthritis. It is an example of genetic research which is directly applicable to improving the care of patients with psoriatic arthritis.”