Key clinical point: The risk for COVID-19 hospitalization reduced markedly after vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and matched individuals from the general population; however, patients with RA remained at a higher risk for hospitalization even after complete vaccination.

Major finding: The absolute risk for hospitalization was 0.20% vs 0.08% among unvaccinated patients with RA vs matched patients at 60 days of follow-up and remained below 0.05% in both fully vaccinated groups after 180 days of follow-up. However, patients with RA remained at a higher risk for COVID-19 hospitalization vs matched patients, even after complete vaccination (adjusted hazard ratio 1.94; 95% CI 1.03-3.66).

Study details: This was an observational study of 28,447 unvaccinated patients with RA receiving conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs who were matched with 568,940 individuals from the general population with no history of inflammatory rheumatic disease; eventually, all individuals received one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Aalborg University Hospital. Some authors reported receiving grants and being on speaker’s bureau for various sources.

Source: Cordtz R et al. COVID-19 infection and hospitalization risk according to vaccination status and DMARD treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Apr 13). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac241

Key clinical point: The risk for COVID-19 hospitalization reduced markedly after vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and matched individuals from the general population; however, patients with RA remained at a higher risk for hospitalization even after complete vaccination.

Major finding: The absolute risk for hospitalization was 0.20% vs 0.08% among unvaccinated patients with RA vs matched patients at 60 days of follow-up and remained below 0.05% in both fully vaccinated groups after 180 days of follow-up. However, patients with RA remained at a higher risk for COVID-19 hospitalization vs matched patients, even after complete vaccination (adjusted hazard ratio 1.94; 95% CI 1.03-3.66).

Study details: This was an observational study of 28,447 unvaccinated patients with RA receiving conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs who were matched with 568,940 individuals from the general population with no history of inflammatory rheumatic disease; eventually, all individuals received one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Aalborg University Hospital. Some authors reported receiving grants and being on speaker’s bureau for various sources.

Source: Cordtz R et al. COVID-19 infection and hospitalization risk according to vaccination status and DMARD treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Apr 13). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac241

Key clinical point: The risk for COVID-19 hospitalization reduced markedly after vaccination in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and matched individuals from the general population; however, patients with RA remained at a higher risk for hospitalization even after complete vaccination.

Major finding: The absolute risk for hospitalization was 0.20% vs 0.08% among unvaccinated patients with RA vs matched patients at 60 days of follow-up and remained below 0.05% in both fully vaccinated groups after 180 days of follow-up. However, patients with RA remained at a higher risk for COVID-19 hospitalization vs matched patients, even after complete vaccination (adjusted hazard ratio 1.94; 95% CI 1.03-3.66).

Study details: This was an observational study of 28,447 unvaccinated patients with RA receiving conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs who were matched with 568,940 individuals from the general population with no history of inflammatory rheumatic disease; eventually, all individuals received one or two doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

Disclosures: This study was funded by Aalborg University Hospital. Some authors reported receiving grants and being on speaker’s bureau for various sources.

Source: Cordtz R et al. COVID-19 infection and hospitalization risk according to vaccination status and DMARD treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Apr 13). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac241

Key clinical point: The disease activity metrics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improved significantly with upadacitinib plus elsubrutinib (ABBV-599) vs placebo in patients with inadequate response or intolerance to biologics, with effects likely driven by upadacitinib and not elsubrutinib.

Major finding: At week 12, compared with placebo, the change in Disease Activity Score of 28 joints with C-reactive protein was significantly higher with ABBV-599 (least squares mean difference [LSMD] −1.44) and upadacitinib (LSMD −1.75; both P < .0001) but not with elsubrutinib. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar for ABBV-599 and placebo.

Study details: This was a phase 2 trial including 242 patients with RA and inadequate response/intolerance to biologics who were randomly assigned to receive ABBV-599, elsubrutinib (60, 20, or 5 mg), upadacitinib, or placebo for 12 weeks.

Disclosures: This study was funded by AbbVie. R Fleischmann and several authors reported receiving grant support or honorarium for consultancy from various sources, including AbbVie. Six authors declared being full-time current or former employees or holding stocks or stock options at AbbVie.

Source: Fleischmann R et al. Safety and efficacy of elsubrutinib or upadacitinib alone or in combination (ABBV-599) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to biological therapies: A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 27). Doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(22)00092-3

Key clinical point: The disease activity metrics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improved significantly with upadacitinib plus elsubrutinib (ABBV-599) vs placebo in patients with inadequate response or intolerance to biologics, with effects likely driven by upadacitinib and not elsubrutinib.

Major finding: At week 12, compared with placebo, the change in Disease Activity Score of 28 joints with C-reactive protein was significantly higher with ABBV-599 (least squares mean difference [LSMD] −1.44) and upadacitinib (LSMD −1.75; both P < .0001) but not with elsubrutinib. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar for ABBV-599 and placebo.

Study details: This was a phase 2 trial including 242 patients with RA and inadequate response/intolerance to biologics who were randomly assigned to receive ABBV-599, elsubrutinib (60, 20, or 5 mg), upadacitinib, or placebo for 12 weeks.

Disclosures: This study was funded by AbbVie. R Fleischmann and several authors reported receiving grant support or honorarium for consultancy from various sources, including AbbVie. Six authors declared being full-time current or former employees or holding stocks or stock options at AbbVie.

Source: Fleischmann R et al. Safety and efficacy of elsubrutinib or upadacitinib alone or in combination (ABBV-599) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to biological therapies: A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 27). Doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(22)00092-3

Key clinical point: The disease activity metrics of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) improved significantly with upadacitinib plus elsubrutinib (ABBV-599) vs placebo in patients with inadequate response or intolerance to biologics, with effects likely driven by upadacitinib and not elsubrutinib.

Major finding: At week 12, compared with placebo, the change in Disease Activity Score of 28 joints with C-reactive protein was significantly higher with ABBV-599 (least squares mean difference [LSMD] −1.44) and upadacitinib (LSMD −1.75; both P < .0001) but not with elsubrutinib. The incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events was similar for ABBV-599 and placebo.

Study details: This was a phase 2 trial including 242 patients with RA and inadequate response/intolerance to biologics who were randomly assigned to receive ABBV-599, elsubrutinib (60, 20, or 5 mg), upadacitinib, or placebo for 12 weeks.

Disclosures: This study was funded by AbbVie. R Fleischmann and several authors reported receiving grant support or honorarium for consultancy from various sources, including AbbVie. Six authors declared being full-time current or former employees or holding stocks or stock options at AbbVie.

Source: Fleischmann R et al. Safety and efficacy of elsubrutinib or upadacitinib alone or in combination (ABBV-599) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response or intolerance to biological therapies: A multicentre, double-blind, randomised, controlled, phase 2 trial. Lancet Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 27). Doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(22)00092-3

Key clinical point: Interleukin-22 (IL-22) can be used as a biomarker to predict response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: After 1 year of IL-17i therapy, a higher proportion of patients with low vs high IL-22 levels achieved Disease Activity in PsA (DAPSA) remission (90% vs 15.3%, P = .0006) and Minimal Disease Activity (MDA; 100% vs 46.1%, P = .0075), with the rate of achieving DAPSA remission and MDA at 1 year significantly higher in patients with high IL-22 levels who received TNFi vs IL-17-i and in patients with low IL-22 levels who received IL-17i vs TNFi.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 47 patients with PsA who were treated with TNFi or IL-17i for ≥1 year.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by Research on Rare and Interactable Diseases and Research Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan; and other sources. Y Tanaka and S Nakayamada declared receiving consulting fees, speaking fees, honoraria, and research grants from several sources.

Source: Miyagawa I et al. Impact of serum interleukin-22 as a biomarker for the differential use of molecular targeted drugs in psoriatic arthritis: a retrospective study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2022;24:86 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.1186/s13075-022-02771-4

Key clinical point: Interleukin-22 (IL-22) can be used as a biomarker to predict response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: After 1 year of IL-17i therapy, a higher proportion of patients with low vs high IL-22 levels achieved Disease Activity in PsA (DAPSA) remission (90% vs 15.3%, P = .0006) and Minimal Disease Activity (MDA; 100% vs 46.1%, P = .0075), with the rate of achieving DAPSA remission and MDA at 1 year significantly higher in patients with high IL-22 levels who received TNFi vs IL-17-i and in patients with low IL-22 levels who received IL-17i vs TNFi.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 47 patients with PsA who were treated with TNFi or IL-17i for ≥1 year.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by Research on Rare and Interactable Diseases and Research Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan; and other sources. Y Tanaka and S Nakayamada declared receiving consulting fees, speaking fees, honoraria, and research grants from several sources.

Source: Miyagawa I et al. Impact of serum interleukin-22 as a biomarker for the differential use of molecular targeted drugs in psoriatic arthritis: a retrospective study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2022;24:86 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.1186/s13075-022-02771-4

Key clinical point: Interleukin-22 (IL-22) can be used as a biomarker to predict response to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and IL-17 inhibitors (IL-17i) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: After 1 year of IL-17i therapy, a higher proportion of patients with low vs high IL-22 levels achieved Disease Activity in PsA (DAPSA) remission (90% vs 15.3%, P = .0006) and Minimal Disease Activity (MDA; 100% vs 46.1%, P = .0075), with the rate of achieving DAPSA remission and MDA at 1 year significantly higher in patients with high IL-22 levels who received TNFi vs IL-17-i and in patients with low IL-22 levels who received IL-17i vs TNFi.

Study details: Findings are from a retrospective study including 47 patients with PsA who were treated with TNFi or IL-17i for ≥1 year.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by Research on Rare and Interactable Diseases and Research Grant-In-Aid for Scientific Research by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan; and other sources. Y Tanaka and S Nakayamada declared receiving consulting fees, speaking fees, honoraria, and research grants from several sources.

Source: Miyagawa I et al. Impact of serum interleukin-22 as a biomarker for the differential use of molecular targeted drugs in psoriatic arthritis: a retrospective study. Arthritis Res Ther. 2022;24:86 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.1186/s13075-022-02771-4

Key clinical point: A dose of 300 mg secukinumab vs  placebo showed rapid and significant improvements in the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) along with a tolerable safety profile in a US-only cohort of biologic-naive patients with PsA.

Major finding: At week 16, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving 300 mg secukinumab vs placebo achieved ≥20% (odds ratio [OR] 3.51; P = .0011), ≥50% (OR 6.30; P = .0038), and ≥70% (OR 10.50; P = .0243) improvement in American College of Rheumatology score, with response maintained through week 52. Diarrhea (5.8%), hypertension (4.9%), and upper respiratory tract infections (5.8%) were the most common adverse events, mostly of mild or moderate severity.

Study details: This phase 4 CHOICE study included 258 biologic-naive patients with moderate-to-severe PsA who were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg secukinumab, 150 mg secukinumab, or placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Four authors declared being employees and shareholders of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Novartis.

Source: Nguyen T et al. Secukinumab in US biologic-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis: Results from the randomized, placebo-controlled CHOICE study. J Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.3899/jrheum.210912

Key clinical point: A dose of 300 mg secukinumab vs  placebo showed rapid and significant improvements in the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) along with a tolerable safety profile in a US-only cohort of biologic-naive patients with PsA.

Major finding: At week 16, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving 300 mg secukinumab vs placebo achieved ≥20% (odds ratio [OR] 3.51; P = .0011), ≥50% (OR 6.30; P = .0038), and ≥70% (OR 10.50; P = .0243) improvement in American College of Rheumatology score, with response maintained through week 52. Diarrhea (5.8%), hypertension (4.9%), and upper respiratory tract infections (5.8%) were the most common adverse events, mostly of mild or moderate severity.

Study details: This phase 4 CHOICE study included 258 biologic-naive patients with moderate-to-severe PsA who were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg secukinumab, 150 mg secukinumab, or placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Four authors declared being employees and shareholders of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Novartis.

Source: Nguyen T et al. Secukinumab in US biologic-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis: Results from the randomized, placebo-controlled CHOICE study. J Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.3899/jrheum.210912

Key clinical point: A dose of 300 mg secukinumab vs  placebo showed rapid and significant improvements in the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) along with a tolerable safety profile in a US-only cohort of biologic-naive patients with PsA.

Major finding: At week 16, a significantly higher proportion of patients receiving 300 mg secukinumab vs placebo achieved ≥20% (odds ratio [OR] 3.51; P = .0011), ≥50% (OR 6.30; P = .0038), and ≥70% (OR 10.50; P = .0243) improvement in American College of Rheumatology score, with response maintained through week 52. Diarrhea (5.8%), hypertension (4.9%), and upper respiratory tract infections (5.8%) were the most common adverse events, mostly of mild or moderate severity.

Study details: This phase 4 CHOICE study included 258 biologic-naive patients with moderate-to-severe PsA who were randomly assigned to receive 300 mg secukinumab, 150 mg secukinumab, or placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Four authors declared being employees and shareholders of Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and other authors reported ties with various sources, including Novartis.

Source: Nguyen T et al. Secukinumab in US biologic-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis: Results from the randomized, placebo-controlled CHOICE study. J Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.3899/jrheum.210912

Key clinical point: Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) significantly improved the quality of life (QoL) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared with placebo.

Major finding: The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (mean difference [MD] −0.21), Dermatology Life Quality Index (MD −4.36), and Short Form 36 Questionnaire physical (MD 3.76) and mental (MD 1.76; all P < .00001) component summaries improved significantly with bDMARD vs placebo. However, bDMARD showed no significant advantage or disadvantage over methotrexate or tofacitinib.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled trials including 14,115 patients with PsA who received non-bDMARD, placebo, or bDMARD alone or in combination with non-bDMARD.

Disclosures: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Lu Y et al. Effects of bDMARDs on quality of life in patients with psoriatic arthritis: Meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e058497 (Apr 12). Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058497

Key clinical point: Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) significantly improved the quality of life (QoL) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared with placebo.

Major finding: The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (mean difference [MD] −0.21), Dermatology Life Quality Index (MD −4.36), and Short Form 36 Questionnaire physical (MD 3.76) and mental (MD 1.76; all P < .00001) component summaries improved significantly with bDMARD vs placebo. However, bDMARD showed no significant advantage or disadvantage over methotrexate or tofacitinib.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled trials including 14,115 patients with PsA who received non-bDMARD, placebo, or bDMARD alone or in combination with non-bDMARD.

Disclosures: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Lu Y et al. Effects of bDMARDs on quality of life in patients with psoriatic arthritis: Meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e058497 (Apr 12). Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058497

Key clinical point: Biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) significantly improved the quality of life (QoL) in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared with placebo.

Major finding: The Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (mean difference [MD] −0.21), Dermatology Life Quality Index (MD −4.36), and Short Form 36 Questionnaire physical (MD 3.76) and mental (MD 1.76; all P < .00001) component summaries improved significantly with bDMARD vs placebo. However, bDMARD showed no significant advantage or disadvantage over methotrexate or tofacitinib.

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 37 randomized controlled trials including 14,115 patients with PsA who received non-bDMARD, placebo, or bDMARD alone or in combination with non-bDMARD.

Disclosures: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Lu Y et al. Effects of bDMARDs on quality of life in patients with psoriatic arthritis: Meta-analysis. BMJ Open. 2022;12:e058497 (Apr 12). Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058497

Key clinical point: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive patients with moderate vs high disease activity at baseline were more likely to achieve Clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) treatment targets following apremilast therapy.

Major finding: At week 52, remission or low disease activity was achieved by approximately twice the number of patients with moderate vs high disease activity (61.7% vs 28.2%) at baseline, regardless of one or multiple PsA manifestations.

Study details: Findings are from a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 PALACE 4 study including 175 DMARD-naive patients with active PsA who received 30 mg apremilast.

Disclosures: This study received writing support from Amgen. Three authors declared being employees and stockholders of Amgen. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Amgen.

Source: Mease PJ et al. Baseline disease activity predicts achievement of cDAPSA treatment targets with apremilast: Phase 3 results in DMARD-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.3899/jrheum.210906

Key clinical point: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive patients with moderate vs high disease activity at baseline were more likely to achieve Clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) treatment targets following apremilast therapy.

Major finding: At week 52, remission or low disease activity was achieved by approximately twice the number of patients with moderate vs high disease activity (61.7% vs 28.2%) at baseline, regardless of one or multiple PsA manifestations.

Study details: Findings are from a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 PALACE 4 study including 175 DMARD-naive patients with active PsA who received 30 mg apremilast.

Disclosures: This study received writing support from Amgen. Three authors declared being employees and stockholders of Amgen. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Amgen.

Source: Mease PJ et al. Baseline disease activity predicts achievement of cDAPSA treatment targets with apremilast: Phase 3 results in DMARD-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.3899/jrheum.210906

Key clinical point: Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive patients with moderate vs high disease activity at baseline were more likely to achieve Clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) treatment targets following apremilast therapy.

Major finding: At week 52, remission or low disease activity was achieved by approximately twice the number of patients with moderate vs high disease activity (61.7% vs 28.2%) at baseline, regardless of one or multiple PsA manifestations.

Study details: Findings are from a post hoc analysis of the phase 3 PALACE 4 study including 175 DMARD-naive patients with active PsA who received 30 mg apremilast.

Disclosures: This study received writing support from Amgen. Three authors declared being employees and stockholders of Amgen. The other authors reported ties with several sources, including Amgen.

Source: Mease PJ et al. Baseline disease activity predicts achievement of cDAPSA treatment targets with apremilast: Phase 3 results in DMARD-naive patients with psoriatic arthritis. J Rheumatol. 2022 (Apr 15). Doi: 10.3899/jrheum.210906

Key clinical point: Patients with psoriasis and concurrent psoriatic arthritis (PsA) reported more extensive skin disease than patients with only psoriasis, with psoriasis severity being significantly associated with higher odds of concurrent PsA.

Major finding: Body surface area scores were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis and concurrent PsA vs patients with only psoriasis (mean difference 5.31; 95% CI 1.78-8.83), with severe psoriasis being a significant predictor of concurrent PsA (odds ratio 3.34; P < .001).

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 29 studies including adult patients with psoriasis with or without concurrent PsA or adult patients with psoriasis who developed PsA.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. JM Laar declared receiving research grants and honoraria from several sources.

Source: Pouw JN et al. Do patients with psoriatic arthritis have more severe skin disease than patients with psoriasis only? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatology. 2022 (May 12). Doi: 10.1159/000524231

Key clinical point: Patients with psoriasis and concurrent psoriatic arthritis (PsA) reported more extensive skin disease than patients with only psoriasis, with psoriasis severity being significantly associated with higher odds of concurrent PsA.

Major finding: Body surface area scores were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis and concurrent PsA vs patients with only psoriasis (mean difference 5.31; 95% CI 1.78-8.83), with severe psoriasis being a significant predictor of concurrent PsA (odds ratio 3.34; P < .001).

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 29 studies including adult patients with psoriasis with or without concurrent PsA or adult patients with psoriasis who developed PsA.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. JM Laar declared receiving research grants and honoraria from several sources.

Source: Pouw JN et al. Do patients with psoriatic arthritis have more severe skin disease than patients with psoriasis only? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatology. 2022 (May 12). Doi: 10.1159/000524231

Key clinical point: Patients with psoriasis and concurrent psoriatic arthritis (PsA) reported more extensive skin disease than patients with only psoriasis, with psoriasis severity being significantly associated with higher odds of concurrent PsA.

Major finding: Body surface area scores were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis and concurrent PsA vs patients with only psoriasis (mean difference 5.31; 95% CI 1.78-8.83), with severe psoriasis being a significant predictor of concurrent PsA (odds ratio 3.34; P < .001).

Study details: This was a meta-analysis of 29 studies including adult patients with psoriasis with or without concurrent PsA or adult patients with psoriasis who developed PsA.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. JM Laar declared receiving research grants and honoraria from several sources.

Source: Pouw JN et al. Do patients with psoriatic arthritis have more severe skin disease than patients with psoriasis only? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dermatology. 2022 (May 12). Doi: 10.1159/000524231

Key clinical point: A substantial proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who received biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapy showed osteoproliferative lesions on a lumbar radiograph, with osteophytes being the most common.

Major finding: Osteophytes were the most common lesions and were detected in 42.3% of patients, with 18.1% of patients being diagnosed with grade ≥2 osteophytes. At least one syndesmophyte was detected in 24.2% of patients, with 9.3% and 19.8% of patients showing bridging and corner syndesmophytes, respectively. Ambiguous lesions were detected in 7.1% of patients.

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of 182 patients with PsA who received bDMARD therapy and underwent lumbar radiography assessment.

Disclosures: This research was funded by Hacettepe Rheumatology Society, Turkey. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ayan G et al. Degenerative and inflammatory osteoproliferations in lumbar radiographs in psoriatic arthritis patients. J Clin Med. 2022;11(7):2009 (Apr 3). Doi: 10.3390/jcm11072009

Key clinical point: A substantial proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who received biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapy showed osteoproliferative lesions on a lumbar radiograph, with osteophytes being the most common.

Major finding: Osteophytes were the most common lesions and were detected in 42.3% of patients, with 18.1% of patients being diagnosed with grade ≥2 osteophytes. At least one syndesmophyte was detected in 24.2% of patients, with 9.3% and 19.8% of patients showing bridging and corner syndesmophytes, respectively. Ambiguous lesions were detected in 7.1% of patients.

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of 182 patients with PsA who received bDMARD therapy and underwent lumbar radiography assessment.

Disclosures: This research was funded by Hacettepe Rheumatology Society, Turkey. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ayan G et al. Degenerative and inflammatory osteoproliferations in lumbar radiographs in psoriatic arthritis patients. J Clin Med. 2022;11(7):2009 (Apr 3). Doi: 10.3390/jcm11072009

Key clinical point: A substantial proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who received biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapy showed osteoproliferative lesions on a lumbar radiograph, with osteophytes being the most common.

Major finding: Osteophytes were the most common lesions and were detected in 42.3% of patients, with 18.1% of patients being diagnosed with grade ≥2 osteophytes. At least one syndesmophyte was detected in 24.2% of patients, with 9.3% and 19.8% of patients showing bridging and corner syndesmophytes, respectively. Ambiguous lesions were detected in 7.1% of patients.

Study details: Findings are from an analysis of 182 patients with PsA who received bDMARD therapy and underwent lumbar radiography assessment.

Disclosures: This research was funded by Hacettepe Rheumatology Society, Turkey. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ayan G et al. Degenerative and inflammatory osteoproliferations in lumbar radiographs in psoriatic arthritis patients. J Clin Med. 2022;11(7):2009 (Apr 3). Doi: 10.3390/jcm11072009

Key clinical point: Having sent a pharyngeal sample for culture was associated with an increased risk for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) onset, indicating site of infection being associated with the increased PsA risk rather than the pathogen.

Major finding: Among all samples sent for culture, a pharyngeal sample was associated with a higher risk for PsA onset within first 50 days compared with a urine (hazard ratio [HR] 8.78; 95% CI 3.23-23.91), nasopharyngeal (HR 8.26; 95% CI 2.23-30.63), or blood (HR 25.22; 95% CI 3.12-204.13) sample; however, streptococcal infections in the pharynx or at any other site were not associated with an increased risk for PsA.

Study details: Findings are from a population-based cohort study including 313,235 bacterial cultures from 128,982 individuals.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland. A Ogdie and T Love declared serving as consultants and receiving grants and reimbursement from several sources.

Source: Thrastardottir T et al. Strong site-specific association of pharyngeal cultures with the onset of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, regardless of pathogen. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Apr 23). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac253 

Key clinical point: Having sent a pharyngeal sample for culture was associated with an increased risk for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) onset, indicating site of infection being associated with the increased PsA risk rather than the pathogen.

Major finding: Among all samples sent for culture, a pharyngeal sample was associated with a higher risk for PsA onset within first 50 days compared with a urine (hazard ratio [HR] 8.78; 95% CI 3.23-23.91), nasopharyngeal (HR 8.26; 95% CI 2.23-30.63), or blood (HR 25.22; 95% CI 3.12-204.13) sample; however, streptococcal infections in the pharynx or at any other site were not associated with an increased risk for PsA.

Study details: Findings are from a population-based cohort study including 313,235 bacterial cultures from 128,982 individuals.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland. A Ogdie and T Love declared serving as consultants and receiving grants and reimbursement from several sources.

Source: Thrastardottir T et al. Strong site-specific association of pharyngeal cultures with the onset of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, regardless of pathogen. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Apr 23). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac253 

Key clinical point: Having sent a pharyngeal sample for culture was associated with an increased risk for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) onset, indicating site of infection being associated with the increased PsA risk rather than the pathogen.

Major finding: Among all samples sent for culture, a pharyngeal sample was associated with a higher risk for PsA onset within first 50 days compared with a urine (hazard ratio [HR] 8.78; 95% CI 3.23-23.91), nasopharyngeal (HR 8.26; 95% CI 2.23-30.63), or blood (HR 25.22; 95% CI 3.12-204.13) sample; however, streptococcal infections in the pharynx or at any other site were not associated with an increased risk for PsA.

Study details: Findings are from a population-based cohort study including 313,235 bacterial cultures from 128,982 individuals.

Disclosures: The study was supported by the Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland. A Ogdie and T Love declared serving as consultants and receiving grants and reimbursement from several sources.

Source: Thrastardottir T et al. Strong site-specific association of pharyngeal cultures with the onset of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis, regardless of pathogen. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Apr 23). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac253 

Key clinical point: Both first- and second-line secukinumab therapies demonstrated substantial improvement in disease activity, adequate retention rates, and a satisfactory safety profile in a real-world population of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Mean Disease Activity Score 28 using C-reactive protein decreased from 3.0 to 2.0 and 1.9 at the first and third years of follow-up, whereas the proportion of patients in remission/low disease activity increased from 52.1% and 71.4% to 100% after 2 years of the first- and second-line secukinumab treatments, respectively. The overall retention rates of secukinumab were 74.1%, 59.1%, and 54.2% in the first, second, and third years of treatment, respectively, with no new adverse events being reported.

Study details: This observational, retrospective analysis included 639 patients with PsA or axial spondyloarthritis from the BIOBADASER registry who had received secukinumab for >12 months. Of these patients, 350 had PsA.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Novartis Spain. C Sastré is an employee of Novartis. The other authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Moreno-Ramos MJ et al. Real-world effectiveness and treatment retention of secukinumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: A descriptive observational analysis of the Spanish BIOBADASER Registry. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Apr 25). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00446-9

Key clinical point: Both first- and second-line secukinumab therapies demonstrated substantial improvement in disease activity, adequate retention rates, and a satisfactory safety profile in a real-world population of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Mean Disease Activity Score 28 using C-reactive protein decreased from 3.0 to 2.0 and 1.9 at the first and third years of follow-up, whereas the proportion of patients in remission/low disease activity increased from 52.1% and 71.4% to 100% after 2 years of the first- and second-line secukinumab treatments, respectively. The overall retention rates of secukinumab were 74.1%, 59.1%, and 54.2% in the first, second, and third years of treatment, respectively, with no new adverse events being reported.

Study details: This observational, retrospective analysis included 639 patients with PsA or axial spondyloarthritis from the BIOBADASER registry who had received secukinumab for >12 months. Of these patients, 350 had PsA.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Novartis Spain. C Sastré is an employee of Novartis. The other authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Moreno-Ramos MJ et al. Real-world effectiveness and treatment retention of secukinumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: A descriptive observational analysis of the Spanish BIOBADASER Registry. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Apr 25). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00446-9

Key clinical point: Both first- and second-line secukinumab therapies demonstrated substantial improvement in disease activity, adequate retention rates, and a satisfactory safety profile in a real-world population of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Mean Disease Activity Score 28 using C-reactive protein decreased from 3.0 to 2.0 and 1.9 at the first and third years of follow-up, whereas the proportion of patients in remission/low disease activity increased from 52.1% and 71.4% to 100% after 2 years of the first- and second-line secukinumab treatments, respectively. The overall retention rates of secukinumab were 74.1%, 59.1%, and 54.2% in the first, second, and third years of treatment, respectively, with no new adverse events being reported.

Study details: This observational, retrospective analysis included 639 patients with PsA or axial spondyloarthritis from the BIOBADASER registry who had received secukinumab for >12 months. Of these patients, 350 had PsA.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Novartis Spain. C Sastré is an employee of Novartis. The other authors reported no conflicts of interest.

Source: Moreno-Ramos MJ et al. Real-world effectiveness and treatment retention of secukinumab in patients with psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis: A descriptive observational analysis of the Spanish BIOBADASER Registry. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Apr 25). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00446-9