The diagnosis of early psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease with heterogeneous clinical presentation and unpredictable course but often with a tendency to irreversible joint damage. Joint damage can occur early in the disease also in the absence of significant clinical signs of arthritis. These observations and the current availability of effective treatments in controlling skin and joint disease underline the importance of early diagnosis of PsA. The use of specific questionnaires for screening patients at risk of psoriatic arthritis, knowledge of new classification criteria for PsA and especially the proper use of new imaging techniques are all important steps in achieving the goal of early diagnosis of PsA. The dermatologist may play a key role in this regard supported, when necessary, by the collaboration of the rheumatologist and radiologist.