A NEW study has found that degenerative disc disease (DDD) is common in young adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), raising concerns about early spinal degeneration in these patients. Researchers analysed 814 PsA patients under 50 and found that 38.8% had DDD, characterised by intervertebral disc narrowing, spur formation, facet joint arthrosis, and spondylolisthesis.
Key risk factors for developing DDD included older age, male sex, diabetes mellitus, and inflammatory back pain (IBP). Other factors such as higher BMI, employment status, and targeted DMARD use showed a possible association with disc disease.
Interestingly, IBP did not reliably distinguish between axial PsA and degenerative disc disease, suggesting that back pain alone may not be a clear indicator of spinal inflammation or degeneration in PsA patients.
The findings highlight the need for careful monitoring of spinal health in younger PsA patients, particularly those with comorbidities like diabetes. Further research is needed to develop better diagnostic tools and treatment strategies to manage early spinal degeneration in PsA.
Aleksandra Zurowska, EMJ
Reference
Kharouf J et al. Degenerative Disc Disease In Young Adults With Psoriatic Arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2025;DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.2024-1148.
