Psoriatic Arthritis

A study finds low risk of malignancy from secukinumab treatment for psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis patients, despite limited data.

A recent study finds increasing number of women with PsA, but an overall stable incidence of disease compared to previous studies in same population.

Mortality rates were similar in COVID-19 patients with and without chronic inflammatory diseases.

Guselkumab is the first and only approved IL-23 inhibitor therapy used to treat adults with active PsA and moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PsO). The medication showed efficacy in skin clearance and joint symptom relief and passed safety measures. Additionally, physical function, health-related quality of life, and resolution of enthesitis and dactylitis were confirmed through week 100.

The diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) may be delayed by more than 2 years in half of patients, especially those of younger age at symptom onset, or with a higher body mass index (BMI) or enthesitis before diagnosis.

A majority of patients with active psoriatic arthritis achieved and maintained skin clearance, joint symptom relief through year 2 of treatment.

In patients with psoriatic arthritis refractory or intolerant to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), upadacitinib (Abbvie; Rinvoq) 15 mg and 30 mg once per day was more effective than placebo over 24 weeks in improving signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

Generally, guidelines recommend beginning psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFis). However, not all patients respond to this method. Ixekizumab (IXE) improved the signs and symptoms of PsA in patients who had exhibited inadequate response to 1 or 2 TNFis.

The drug is commonly used to treat diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, Behcet’s Syndrome, and plaque psoriasis.

Apremilast has been prescribed to more than 250,000 patients with plaque psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis since it was approved in 2014.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Rheumatology Network's highlights from the week ending February 12, 2021.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Rheumatology Network's highlights from the week ending February 5, 2021.

In this 48-week, phase 3, randomized controlled trial, investigators examined patient-reported outcomes of patients with psoriatic arthritis receiving methotrexate monotherapy, etanercept monotherapy, or a combination of both drugs.

Investigators determined, “Treatment with TNF inhibitors is not associated with increased risks of solid cancer overall, or eight common cancer types. There were no indications of different crude incidence of solid cancers overall by TNF inhibitor agent.”

Improvement in ASAS20 (Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society) was seen in 63% of participants assigned to secukinumab 300 mg and 66% of those assigned to secukinumab 150 mg, versus 31% of the placebo group.

The IL-23 inhibitor is shown to improve disease activity across joint and skin symptoms.

Some of the latest developments in the use of these diagnostic tools for psoriatic arthritis were presented the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2020 in November.

Ixekizumab appears to provide significantly greater simultaneous joint and skin improvement for patients with psoriatic arthritis than adalimumab and doesn’t require combination with methotrexate to boost its efficacy.

Patients who had received tofacitinib combination therapy may be able to discontinue methotrexate.