Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: An Integrated Approach

In the past decade it has become increasingly clear that psoriatic disease, both of the skin and joints, can be a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician and a debilitating illness for the patient. At the same time, advances in genetics and immunology have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This text contains a comprehensive discussion by an international group of experts in psoriatic disease of the pathomechanisms, genetics, diagnosis, and treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The information is presented in parallel in order to emphasize the similarities and differences between these two diseases that so commonly occur together. We believe that this approach will make this text an important resource for all practitioners who treat patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

In the past decade it has become increasingly clear that psoriatic disease, both of the skin and joints, can be a significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the physician and a debilitating illness for the patient. At the same time, advances in genetics and immunology have increased our understanding of the pathophysiology of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. This text contains a comprehensive discussion by an international group of experts in psoriatic disease of the pathomechanisms, genetics, diagnosis, and treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. The information is presented in parallel in order to emphasize the similarities and differences between these two diseases that so commonly occur together. We believe that this approach will make this text an important resource for all practitioners who treat patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Doody Review Services

Reviewer:Kathleen E Kramer, MD(Stanford University)
Description:The goal of this book is to integrate information about psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to help specialists understand the whole spectrum of these diseases. To this end, the book is set up in sections addressing genetics, presentation, treatment, etc. The first chapter in each section addresses psoriasis and the next answers the same question with regard to psoriatic arthritis.
Purpose:Too often psoriasis is addressed by dermatologists, and psoriatic arthritis by rheumatologists, without any understanding or coordination between the two groups of specialists. This book attempts to redress this issue by synthesizing, comparing, and reviewing, information on both diseases. There is significant overlap between the two diseases and knowledge of the two by both specialties will greatly serve to improve care and research of each.
Audience:The book is written for dermatologists and rheumatologists, but would be useful for any practitioner who sees patients with either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis on a regular basis. Also, researchers would benefit from this in-depth, side-by-side, comparison of the two conditions. The authors are leaders in their fields.
Features:The book is arranged in sections addressing genetics, epidemiology, presentation, therapies and other aspects of disease. The first chapter in each section addresses psoriasis, the second, psoriatic arthritis. Because of this unusual layout, it is possible to compare, contrast, and synthesize the information about the two conditions which can lead to better understanding of the overlap of these two. Unfortunately, this also leads to significant overlap of information.
Assessment:With increasing specialization in medicine, it is important to continue sharing information between specialties as many aspects of many diseases overlap and research and understanding by one specialty can improve that of another. This book attempts to resolve this by placing psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis side by side and discussing both diseases in this way. The book is complete, up-to-date, and detailed. More of this type of work should be encouraged.