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Has anyone looked into genetic testing?

A MyPsoriasisTeam Member asked a question in My Other Condition group 💭
Nienhagen, DE

I'm concerned that after years of many medications & treatments, I am not experiencing improvement (for PsA or PsO). The PsA is much more impairing for me than the PsO. It has completely changed my life, in so many negative ways.

May 14
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A MyPsoriasisTeam Member

@CollenBarry, how about lymphatic drainage to unblock the pipes. Detox won't work if there not draining properly.

May 30
A MyPsoriasisTeam Member

Thanks again for your response Robina. Unfortunately I tried a very stringent anti-inflammatory diet (thru the care of a well-regarded Naturopath, in conjunction with my healthcare team), detoxed my food and my house and did not experience any improvements. I absolutely believe those things can make a big difference for some people, but for me it didn't make any difference and sadly.....some of my symptoms worsened (especially GI).

I've tried lots of other alternative treatments as well, to no avail (medical massage / fascia work, colonics, tango-parrafin treatments, physical therapy, Bowen treatments, Accupuncture, Meditation & Yoga regularly, Hypnosis, German foot Baths, Chiropractics, etc.

May 14
A MyPsoriasisTeam Member

Not seeing improvement after many years is common also. I found an anti inflammatory diet did more for me than the 14 medications I tried. Also detoxing my food and my house. Big difference.

May 14
A MyPsoriasisTeam Member

I was referring more to genetic testing for rare diagnoses, as I wonder if I am experiencing another disease, in addition to PsA and PsO....something that is not likely to show up in labs.

May 14
MyPsoriasisTeam

It's really tough when you've tried so many treatments and still aren't getting the relief you deserve — especially when PsA is affecting your daily life so significantly. You're not alone in feeling this way.

Genetic testing for guiding psoriatic arthritis treatment is an emerging area, but it's not yet a standard part of Show Full Answer

It's really tough when you've tried so many treatments and still aren't getting the relief you deserve — especially when PsA is affecting your daily life so significantly. You're not alone in feeling this way.

Genetic testing for guiding psoriatic arthritis treatment is an emerging area, but it's not yet a standard part of PsA care. However, there are some relevant points worth knowing:

- About 40% of people with PsA have a close family member with psoriasis or PsA, suggesting a strong genetic component
- Genetic markers can sometimes help confirm a diagnosis or rule out other types of inflammatory arthritis
- Pharmacogenomic testing (how your genes affect medication response) is a growing field, though not yet widely used for PsA specifically Since multiple treatments haven't been working well, it may be worth having a deeper conversation with your rheumatologist. Some helpful questions to bring up:

- Could my body be developing antibodies against my current biologic, making it less effective?
- Would switching to a different class of medication (like a JAK inhibitor) make sense?
- Could adding a DMARD to my current treatment help?

Sometimes the body builds resistance to biologic medications over time, which could explain why relief has faded. A rheumatologist can test for this and adjust your plan accordingly. Bringing up genetic testing specifically is also a completely valid question to raise at your next appointment.

May 14

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Has anyone looked into genetic testing for rare diagnoses?

A MyPsoriasisTeam Member asked a question in My Other Condition group 💭
Nienhagen, DE
May 14

Pharmacogenomic testing? Genetic testing?

A MyPsoriasisTeam Member asked a question 💭
Orange, CA
April 3, 2025

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