Immunologic Causes of Psoriatic Arthritis and Environmental Effects
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition. Other diseases in this group include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis. In general, an autoimmune condition causes the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy body cells and tissues. As a result, tissue damage and inflammation may occur and lead to flares. Scientists have not fully understood the exact mechanism of psoriatic arthritis. A complicated combination of environmental and genetic factors are believed to contribute to the development of the disease. [3]
In addition to genetics, some environmental factors may play a part in the development of psoriatic arthritis. This is especially true in those people who are prone to the disease. More research is still needed to learn more about this link. For the time being, the risk of psoriatic arthritis might be higher in people with:
– Physical trauma or injuries
– Infections, especially those caused by Streptococcus bacteria
– Psychological or physical stress [4]
