Caspar criteria

CASPAR is the acronym for ClASsificationcriteria for the diagnosis of Psoriatic ARthritis: CASPAR is a criteria catalog for the clinical definition of psoriatic arthritis (see there). CASPAR criteria are considered an important tool for the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The CASPAR criteria were introduced in 2006 and are used in clinical research and clinical practice to differentiate patients with psoriatic arthritis from other arthritides. The main purpose of the CASPAR criteria is to provide a consistent and reliable diagnosis to improve the treatment and management of the disease.

The CASPAR criteria consist of a combination of clinical, radiologic and serologic findings. To make a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis, patients must fulfill the following criteria:

1. Presence of psoriasis: There must be a documented history of psoriasis or clinical signs of psoriasis. This can be a positive finding by a dermatologist or the presence of typical psoriatic skin changes.
2. Positive family history for psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis
3. Arthritis: The patient must have inflammatory arthritis affecting at least one joint. This may include asymmetric or symmetric polyarthritis, asymmetric oligoarthritis or spondyloarthritis.

Special features: To confirm the diagnosis, at least one of the following criteria must be met.

• Presence of nail changes (1 point): These include changes such as nail pitting, onycholysis or subungual hyperkeratosis.
• Sponylitis
• Enthesitis (especially heel and kine)
• Asymmetrical joint inflammation
• Presence of dactylitis
• Radiologic findings: Radiologic signs suggestive of psoriatic arthritis, such as erosive changes or the presence of "dactylitis" (so-called "sausage finger").

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