Between 15 and 20 per cent of psoriasis patients develop psoriatic osteoarthritis

Barcelona, December 13, 2011. Acción Psoriasis, the Spanish national association of psoriasis patients and their relatives, together with the Hospital del Mar from Barcelona and Bioiberica Farma, will host next thursday, December 15, an information conference on psoriatic osteoarthritis and other chronic inflammatory diseases. A free-admission event addressed to patients and their relatives, heath professional and to anyone with an interest in this disease, it will begin at 6:00 pm at the Auditorium of the Edifici França (Passeig de Circumval.lació, 8, Barcelona) of the Pompeu Fabra University, which it is one of the organizations forming the Parc de Salut Mar of Barcelona. Prior to the start of the conference, all attendees will be offered a welcome coffee.

One of the aims of this conference is to raise awareness about the close relationship often existing between psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, as well as pointing out the importance of early detection in rheumatic diseases, especially when treating psoriatic osteoarthritis. According to Juana María del Molino, president of Acción Psoriasis, ‘psoriasis patients need to be made aware of the "beneath the skin" problems that their disease might cause in order to detect it as soon as possible and to receive adequate treatment’.

Psoriasis is a chronic, non-infectious skin disease caused by a disorder of the immune system. The typical symptoms are scaly, erythematous plaques or redness in the skin in different body areas. Besides, between 15 to 20 percent of psoriasis patients develop moderate to severe psoriatic arthritis, which causes joint stiffness, pain and inflammation.

The opening lecture will be read by Dr. Ingrid Möller, rheumatologist and director of the Poal Institute of Rheumatology of Barcelona. Her lecture will discuss the topic ‘Early detection of rheumatic diseases: the case of psoriatic osteoarthritis’. Dr. Möller will highlight that ‘it is fundamental to inform psoriasis patients about the symptoms of psoriatic osteoarthritis, in order to diagnose it as soon as possible and apply treatments to prevent irreversible joint damage’. Next, Dr. Montserrat Pérez, dermatologist at the Dr. Moragas Dermatology Clinic of Barcelona, will talk about ‘Chance discoveries: psoriasis medicines discovered by accident’. Finally, Dr. Ernest Vinyoles, family physician and director of the Agencia de Gestió d’Investigació Clínica AP (AGICAP) of the Institut d’Investigació i Recerca en Atenció Primària (IDIAP Jordi Gol) will deal with the following topic: ‘What is a clinical test? What if I am offered to participate in one?’

The conference will be inaugurated by Dr. Ramón Pujol, head of the Department of Dermatology of the Hospital del Mar, Barcelona; by Dr. Jordi Carbonell, Head of the Rheumatology Department of the Hospital del Mar, Barcelona; Mrs. Juana María del Molino, president of Acción Psoriasis, and by Dr. Vergés, clinical pharmacologist and medical and scientific director of Biobérica Farma.

Those wishing to request additional information should contact:

Acción Psoriasis. 

Susana Cebollero

E-mail: susana.cebollero@acciopsoriasi.org

Telephone: +34 93 280 46 22, +34 93 669 958 213

Fax: +34 93 280 42 80