Patients searching “Tomball TX psoriatic arthritis doctor near me” should contact Advanced Rheumatology of Houston today. Doctors who diagnose and treat psoriatic arthritis are known as rheumatologists. Of course, rheumatologists diagnose and treat a variety of different rheumatologic diseases. These diseases affect connective tissues in the body, which include joints, ligaments, organs, bone, and skin.

Fortunately, Advanced Rheumatology of Houston has the doctor patients need. Dr. Brionez is a professional and friendly rheumatologist who genuinely cares about her patients. She has more than ten years of experience, so patients know they are in good hands. Dr. Brionez will diagnose and treat arthritis in patients, along with numerous other conditions.

You can find the full list of conditions she can help patients with below.

• Gout
• Myositis
• Osteoarthritis
• Osteoporosis
• Polymyalgia Rheumatica
• Psoriatic Arthritis
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Scleroderma
• Sjögren’s Syndrome
• Spondyloarthropathies
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
• Vasculitis

As you can see, Dr. Brionez is capable of helping patients with numerous rheumatologic illnesses. She started her medical career by obtaining her Bachelor of Science in Nutritional Science from Texas A&M University. Then, Dr. Brionez acquired her Doctor of Medicine at the Baylor College of Medicine. A fellowship in rheumatology was also completed before she became board-certified in internal medicine in 2007.

Two years later, in 2009, Dr. Brionez became a board-certified rheumatologist and has been in practice since. She will use the most trusted and advanced treatment options for these diseases. For this reason, patients should consider contacting Advanced Rheumatology of Houston.

Psoriatic Arthritis’ Link to Psoriasis

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic condition that appears in people with the skin disease known as psoriasis. Although, if you have relatives with psoriasis, then you are still at risk for developing psoriatic arthritis. Psoriasis appears in patients as patches of red or white scaly skin. In some cases, the arthritis appears before the skin disease. However, only 15 percent of psoriasis patients develop the linked arthritis.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system attacks the body’s healthy tissue. Normally, immune systems fight off infections, viruses, and diseases. In the case of psoriatic arthritis, T-cells attack healthy skin, and some can cause an increase in skin cell production. The skin will develop new cells faster than it should. New skin cells should appear in weeks, while psoriasis causes it to appear in just days.

This process is what causes the scaling effect on the skin. The new skin cells push old ones up against each other, causing patches of thick, scaly skin. The attacks of the immune system will also make the area red, itchy, and irritated. There is no known cause as to why T-cells attack healthy skin, but genetics and environmental factors are thought to play a role.

What is Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis affects the joints in psoriasis patients. Any joint in the body is at risk, but common areas include the hands, feet, and spine. Swollen, painful, or stiff joints anywhere may be a sign of psoriatic arthritis. This arthritis occurs when the immune system starts attacking the joints of the body. If you are experiencing an issue with your joints, then be sure to see a doctor as soon as possible. Research has shown that early detection of the illness is better than later.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Dr. Brionez will help you diagnose and treat your psoriatic arthritis. There are many ways of identifying the condition. Firstly, she will examine your nails, skin, and affected joints. Secondly, scans such as X-rays, ultrasounds, or CT scans will also be used. These scans help her see the condition of the joint. Finally, Dr. Brionez will run blood tests to identify if there are any other conditions at work.

A majority of psoriatic arthritis patients respond well to treatment options, and there are many options for patients. However, 40 percent of patients do not respond adequately to treatment options. This is a severe problem as this disease can be debilitating in severe cases. More mild cases respond well to therapy and over the counter painkillers like ibuprofen or Advil.

If you do not have a mild case, then anti-rheumatic drugs may be used. There are a number of options when it comes to these medications and could be used in a number of different combinations for patients. For those who do not respond to current treatment options, there is hope for new options. Research studies are paving the way toward new options. Psoriatic arthritis patients may be able to help.

KEEPsAKE Research Study

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is a participating clinic in the KEEPsAKE research study. This study lasts a little more than four years and is testing a new investigational drug for psoriatic arthritis patients. The first 24 weeks of the study will split participants into two groups of 420 people. One group will receive the drug while the other will be given a placebo. Participants will not know which version of the drug they have. The same goes for participating doctors.

After the 24 weeks is over, both groups are combined and given the investigational drug. The remaining portion of the study will involve doctors checking up on the condition of patients. If you are interested in participating in this study, then there are a few pieces of criteria you will need to meet. You can view those requirements on our psoriatic arthritis research web page.  You can also find additional details about the study there.

Tomball TX Psoriatic Arthritis Doctor Near Me

Advanced Rheumatology of Houston is dedicated to caring for patients with all kinds of rheumatologic conditions. Psoriatic arthritis is a potentially debilitating disease and should be detected as soon as possible. If you are experiencing symptoms of this condition, then contact our clinic today. Patients can schedule an appointment by calling (281) 766-7886.

Dr. Brionez has more than ten years of experience, which gives her the ability to diagnose and treat arthritis effectively. There is no longer a need to live an uncomfortable life. There are ways to treat this disease. So, give us a call or contact us online. Regardless, Dr. Brionez will be the “Tomball TX psoriatic arthritis doctor near me.”

 

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