Peripheral Spondyloarthritis (pSpA). Peripheral SpA leads to inflammation and pain in joints and tendons outside the spine. Joints commonly affected include the hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders, knees, ankles, and feet. Symptoms may also include dactylitis (swelling of an entire finger or toe) and enthesitis (inflammation at points where tendons attach to bones). Other organs, like the eyes, gut, or skin, may also be affected.

Subtypes of Peripheral Spondyloarthritis

• Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA): This type is marked by pain and swelling in the small joints of the hands and feet, often alongside psoriasis (scaly skin patches). It can also affect the spine or cause dactylitis.
• Enteropathic Arthritis: Occurs in people with inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis, and often comes with gastrointestinal symptoms.
• Reactive Arthritis: Typically develops after an infection in the digestive or urinary tract. This condition can cause joint inflammation and may involve the eyes, skin, or urinary/genital systems. Usually, symptoms are short-lived but may persist or recur in some people.

Undifferentiated Spondyloarthritis: This term is used when a person’s symptoms don’t fit neatly into other SpA categories. For example, someone may have eye inflammation, heel pain, and knee swelling, but not display other classic signs.