Table 1

 Disease characteristics of psoriatic arthritis patients with dactylitis (n = 260)

VariablePresentationFirst visit with dactylitis
Values are mean (SD) or per cent.
NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug; PUVA, psoralen plus ultraviolet A irradiation.
Age at onset (years)
    Psoriasis28 (13.1)
    Psoriatic arthritis34 (11.6)
Disease duration (years)
    Psoriasis13 (11.2)14 (12.0)
    Psoriatic arthritis7 (7.9)8 (8.6)
Age (years)41 (12.3)42 (12.8)
Male sex57%
Arthritis pattern
    1. Distal8%7%
    2. Oligoarthritis14%13%
    3. Polyarthritis44%43%
    4. Back only0.4%
    5. Back+14%4%
    6. Back+26%5%
    7. Back+323%28%
Number of active joints11 (9.1)11 (9.2)
Number of clinically deformed joints2 (5.3)3 (6.1)
Dactylitis (% present)33.5%
Psoriasis (% present)95%97%
Nail lesions (% present)84%85%
Drug treatment
    None14%11%
    NSAID47%42%
    Gold, chloroquine, sulfasalzine5%6%
    Imuran, methotrexate13%15%
    PUVA, retinoid6%9%
    Corticosteroid15%18%