Introduction:

The distal phalanx tuft of the hand (DPTH) is a bone structure that undergoes subtle changes in various musculoskeletal diseases. To date, the type and frequency of DPTH injuries involved in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are unknown.

Objective:

To determine the abnormal findings related to DPTH through plain X-rays in adult subjects with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Materials and methods:

A systematic review of radiographic alterations of the DPTH detected in plain hand radiographs was performed following the PRISMA guidelines. The prevalence of findings was summarized using a fixed effects model. Statistical associations were expressed as odds ratio (OR) with confidence intervals (CI) and p values.

Results:

Eleven observational studies were included. The most frequent alteration in PsA was DPTH resorption with a prevalence of 16%. The involvement of DPTH in subjects with psoriatic onicopathy was higher than in subjects without ungueal affectation (OR=2.91, 95%CI: 1.04-8.13; p=0.04), being erosions and sclerosis the most important findings.

Conclusion:

Current evidence regarding DPTH involvement in PsA and psoriasis is limited. However, an apparent correlation between DPTH findings and ungual abnormalities could exist, where erosions and sclerosis are the most significant abnormalities.

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