Aim: To provide the first case series analysis for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in Malaysia.
Methods: Patient records were studied from rheumatology clinics in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital and Putrajaya Hospital in Malaysia.
Results: Thirty-one patients from two rheumatology centres were studied. Thirteen patients (41.9%) were male and 18 patients (58.1%) were female. Nineteen patients (61.3%) were Malays, four (12.9%) were Chinese, seven (22.6%) were Indians and one (3.2%) was a Sikh. The majority of patients were in the >.50 years age-group (11 [35.5%]) followed by the 41-50 years age-group (10 [32.3%]). Thirteen patients (41.9%) had the disease since 41-50 years of age. Twenty-three patients (77.4%) had no family history of PsA. Twenty-three patients (74.2%) had psoriasis first, seven (22.6%) had arthritis first and one (3.2%) developed psoriasis and arthritis at the same time. Twenty-four patients (77.4%) had positive activity correlation for skin and arthritis. The majority of patients had symmetrical arthritis (20 [64.5%]) and chronic plaque-like lesions (22 [71.0%]). These patients were on NSAIDS and methotrexate (14 [45.2%]). One patient (3.6%) needed surgery for joint replacement.
Conclusion: Patients who were diagnosed as having PsA were Malays, age group of more than 50, disease onset at 41-50 years of age, no family history, had symmetrical and chronic plaque lesions, had psoriasis first and needed NSAIDS and methotrexate.