Study: Cause of Bone Damage in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Found

Scientists have discovered why patients with psoriatic arthritis suffer bone damage, according to a report in the March 15 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

University of Rochester Medical Center researchers found that those with the disease have too many cells called osteoclasts that dissolve bone, while their joints have too much Rankl, a molecule that signals the cells to destroy bone.

The researchers made these findings after analyzing blood samples and examining cells in the joint linings of 30 patients with psoriatic arthritis and of 12 healthy patients.

Compared to people without the disease, patients with psoriatic arthritis had 45 times as many osteoclast precursors in their bloodstream.

The researchers are now working on ways to use the new information to diagnose, track and possibly predict the course of the disease in patients much more quickly than possible today. The research may also open up new drug strategies, such as a compound that reduces or counters the effects of RANKL on osteoclast precursors in psoriatic arthritis patients.

Other sources: University of Rochester