Early Treatment Key to Managing Psoriatic Arthritis in Hong Kong
About 30 per cent of Hong Kong psoriasis patients develop psoriatic arthritis, a chronic condition affecting skin and joints. Experts urge early treatment to prevent joint damage and reduce cardiovascular risks, with personalised therapies offering new hope.
For many Hong Kong residents, psoriasis may appear as a manageable skin condition, but for about 30 per cent of patients, it involves a deeper problem: psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a chronic inflammatory disease affecting both skin and joints.
PsA causes joint swelling, pain, dactylitis (sausage-like swelling of fingers or toes) and severe fatigue. Local data indicate that the condition commonly strikes adults in their 30s and 40s, significantly affecting their careers and quality of life.
Rheumatologists stress that early treatment is crucial. Delayed diagnoses have historically led to irreversible joint destruction and permanent deformity. Experts highlight a "window of opportunity" in which catching and treating inflammation early can stop bone erosion before it starts.
Research by the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) shows that achieving early, sustained control of PsA also protects the heart, reducing the elevated risk of cardiovascular diseases linked to the condition.
Because PsA symptoms vary widely among patients, treatment is now personalised. Mild cases may begin with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate. For moderate-to-severe cases, biologic therapies selectively block inflammatory proteins including TNF-alpha, IL-17, IL-17A, IL-17F or IL-23.
Recent CUHK clinical trials found that targeted IL-17 inhibitors can help partially repair bone damage while clearing skin plaques.
Dr Timothy Wan Man-choi, a specialist in rheumatology and honorary associate clinical professor at the University of Hong Kong, advises psoriasis patients who notice persistent joint stiffness to consult a specialist early for a personalised treatment plan.