A study designed to detect early signs of psoriatic arthritis has announced encouraging initial findings from its Irish cohort of patients.

The results of the ongoing study, known as HPOS, by a team of researchers at University College Dublin, in partnership with the University of Oxford, were revealed as Psoriasis Awareness Month drew to a close. 

Of the approximately 1,500 participants who have so far registered for HPOS and completed the online Psoriasis Epidemiology Screening Tool, 25% showed evidence of possible arthritis. While these participants would previously have been diagnosed with psoriasis, they were unaware of potentially having psoriatic arthritis too. 

Researchers are hoping to use the findings from the study to develop diagnostic tests to better determine which psoriasis patients may develop psoriatic arthritis to prevent irreversible joint damage before it occurs, diagnose it earlier or predict disease progression.

Consultant rheumatologist and study co-lead, Prof Oliver FitzGerald, said: “This study aims to find ways to identify which patients with psoriasis are likely to go on to develop psoriatic arthritis by developing a simple blood test that would catch the disease before there are any obvious symptoms. In this way, we hope to be able to intervene at a much earlier stage to prevent the disease from actually occurring by modifying risk factors or by offering preventative therapies.

"This study’s initial findings underscore the importance of patient participation in building a comprehensive understanding of the early warning signs of psoriatic arthritis. I would encourage any person with psoriasis, who is over 18 years of age, and who has not been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, to take part. It could be the difference between an early diagnosis and prompt action, or a delayed diagnosis and significant joint damage.”