Arthritis, psoriasis organizations sponsor country's first psoriatic arthritis-specific event

PORTLAND, Ore. — The National Psoriasis Foundation and the Arthritis Foundation are presenting the country's first program specifically devoted to psoriatic arthritis this week, the two organizations said Monday.

The groups will sponsor the event, Be Joint Smart, at Queens College in New York, on Saturday.

According to the two organizations, 30% of people with psoriasis, which is the most common autoimmune disease in the country, actually have psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory disease that causes pain, swelling and stiffness of the joints and tendons. Up to 2 million Americans are currently diagnosed with the disease, and the National Psoriasis Foundation says that nearly one-quarter of people with psoriasis may have undiagnosed psoriatic arthritis.