A 40-year-old female with a history of plaque psoriasis now presents with severe joint pain and swelling in her hands and feet. What could be the cause, and how should this be managed?
This patient's history of psoriasis coupled with joint pain and swelling suggests the possibility of psoriatic arthritis. This condition is an inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis. She should be referred to a rheumatologist for further evaluation and management, which may include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, or disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) like methotrexate or biologic therapies.