Psoriatic arthritis manifests symptoms of arthritis and psoriasis. Virtually all affected patients have psoriasis, which is characterized by thickened, inflamed patches of skin often covered by silver-gray scales. About 20 to 30 percent of persons with psoriasis have accompanying arthritis, which is characterized by pain and swelling in one or more joints.

Of the many types of arthritis, psoriatic arthritis is relatively rare. It usually first appears in men and women between the ages of 30 and 50. The psoriatic component of the disease often precedes arthritis by several months or even years.

There are five different forms of psoriatic arthritis:

1. Asymmetric Polyarthritis
This form of psoriatic arthritis is primarily characterized by severe swelling of the fingers and toes.

2. Symmetric Polyarthritis
This form of psoriatic arthritis closely resembles rheumatoid arthritis. It is called symmetric polyarthritis because it tends to affect four or more joints symmetrically on both sides of the body simultaneously. The most commonly affected joints are in the hands and feet. In addition to joints, this form of psoriatic arthritis can affect an adult's skin and nails. The skin typically displays dry, flaky, skin patches on the elbows, knees, and shins. Other psoriasis prone areas include the hairline, belly button and crack between the buttocks. Finally, the finger and/or toenails of a person with this form of psoriatic arthritis may also become affected. The fingernails and toenails for some patients may become detached. For other persons, finger and/or toenails are marked with little depressions or ridges.

3. Arthritis Mutilans
This form of psoriatic arthritis, is primarily characterized by destruction of the person's bones, particularly in the fingers. This destruction is usually painful, permanently deforming and disabling.

4. DIP (The DIP stands for Distal Interphalangeal Joints)
A person has pain and swelling of their last finger joints, closest to their fingernails.

5. Ankylosing Spondyloarthropathy
This affects the spine, especially the sacroiliac joints. It results in progressive fusion of the vertebrae with an accompanying loss of movement. It is also results in painful inflammation at the points where the ligaments and tendons attach to the spine.

Drug Treatments
Although there is still no cure for psoriatic arthritis, many men and women with this disease receive prescription medications. Until about ten years ago, doctors applied a pyramid model of drug treatment to people with inflammatory forms of arthritis, such as psoriatic arthritis. Physicians used to treat persons with psoriatic arthritis with over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin and ibuprofen. If symptoms failed to improve after a period of at least six weeks, physicians would move up to the next level on the pyramid and progressively prescribe stronger medications.

"Research in Rheumatoid Arthritis has shown us that a lot of damage and disability tends to occur early on in the disease," said Dr. Robert Hoffman, Director of the Division of Immunology and Rheumatology at the University of Missouri's Health Sciences Center. "This research has also shown that aggressive treatment early on in the disease seems to limit disability and improve functional outcome. This information has now been applied to other forms of inflammatory arthritis such as psoriatic arthritis."

As a result, physicians currently tend to prescribe stronger prescription drugs such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, Sulfasalazine, gold injections or Methotrexate, early on following diagnosis. This approach slows the disease's progression and alleviates disability. In lieu of the pyramid model of progressive steps, physicians today prescribe the most effective drug(s), based on a more thorough evaluation of a person's specific combination of symptoms.

Natural Duoflex CMO+HPR Treatment
Cerasomal cis-9-cetylmyristoleate (CMO) has been used to treat all types of arthritis and other autoimmune related disorders since 1995. CMO is a natural substance (found in butter in small amounts) that, for reasons not fully understood, tends to relieve symptoms and allow those who have these illnesses to go about their daily lives with little or no reminder of the miserable days when their disease was active. CMO is taken for only a short time (10 - 20 days). No further treatment is needed by most.

When CMO is effective (80 - 90% of the time) the results last for months and often years. There have never been any reported side effects from this incredible natural product. CMO was originally proven effective when tested on arthritic mice at the United States National Institutes of Health in the early 1970's. It's use is spreading world wide thru referrals from former sufferers of all types of arthritis and other autoimmune illnesses.

For details on how CMO is believed to work, go to http://www.cis9.com and review Dr. Len Sands' article.

Click here to review a clinical trial summary of the trial conducted by Dr. H. Siemandi, M.D., et al, that reviews results of psoriatic patients.

CMO is not effective for those currently taking immune suppressing medications.