Psoriasis, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease…one immune thread in multiple forms

Dr. said: Wasan Al Khafaji, Rheumatology Consultant – Clemenceau Medical Center and Hospital, Dubai. Many people believe that psoriasis is only a skin disease, or that arthritis is a local problem that affects the knee or hand, or that inflammatory bowel disease is limited to the digestive system. However, modern medicine is revealing a deeper and more interconnected truth: these diseases may be different manifestations of a single defect in the immune system.”
She confirmed: “Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that leads to an abnormal acceleration in the growth of skin cells, causing the appearance of red spots covered with white scales. However, the disease does not stop at the skin in all patients, as the inflammation may extend to affect the joints, in what is known as psoriatic arthritis. In this case, the patient suffers from joint pain, swelling, and morning stiffness, and the fingers, knees, spine, or even the surrounding tendons may be affected.” “With joints.”

She added: “On the other hand, there is autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease (Inflammatory Bowel Disease – IBD), such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, which are diseases that cause chronic inflammation of the intestinal lining. Their symptoms usually appear in the form of recurrent diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight loss, and general fatigue. However, what draws medical attention is that a percentage of IBD patients also suffer from joint pain and inflammation, known as arthritis associated with intestinal inflammation.”

What is the connection between the skin, intestines, and joints?

Dr. said: Wasan Al-Khafaji: “The answer lies in the immune system and the inflammatory substances it secretes, most notably cytokines. These substances do not remain confined to one organ, but can travel through the bloodstream, igniting inflammation in more than one organ at the same time or at different stages of the patient’s life. Therefore, symptoms may begin with a skin rash, then joint pain appears years later, or start from the intestines and later reach the joints.”
She explained that the body works as an integrated unit, and that the coincidence of psoriasis or inflammatory bowel diseases with persistent joint pain should not be considered a coincidence, but rather may be an indication of broader immune activity that requires a comprehensive evaluation by a doctor specializing in rheumatology.
She points out that early diagnosis and appropriate treatment not only alleviates symptoms, but also contributes to protecting joints from permanent damage and improving quality of life in the long term. In the world of immune diseases, understanding the connection between different organs is the first step towards more accurate treatment and comprehensive health care.