Psoriatic Arthritis

Key clinical point: Uveitis related to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) had a prevalence of approximately 5%, presented as an acute and recurrent disease with anterior and unilateral involvement, and was associated with impaired quality of life and increased functional disability.

Major finding: Uveitis onset was acute in all cases, with 50% being recurrent and 80% being anterior and unilateral. Patients with vs without uveitis had a higher PsA impact of Disease Score (P  =  .001) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (P  =  .01) and a higher prevalence of HLA-B27 (P < .0001), sacroiliitis on magnetic resonance imaging (P  =  .027), and ocular surface pathology (P  =  .021).

Study details: This retrospective longitudinal study included 406 patients with PsA, of which 4.9% of patients experienced ≥1 episode of uveitis.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. Several authors declared receiving grants, research support, consulting fees, or honoraria for participation in company-sponsored speaker's bureaus from various sources.

Source: De Vicente Delmás A et al. Uveitis in psoriatic arthritis: Study of 406 patients in a single university center and literature review. RMD Open. 2023;9(1):e002781 (Jan 12). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002781

Key clinical point: Uveitis related to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) had a prevalence of approximately 5%, presented as an acute and recurrent disease with anterior and unilateral involvement, and was associated with impaired quality of life and increased functional disability.

Major finding: Uveitis onset was acute in all cases, with 50% being recurrent and 80% being anterior and unilateral. Patients with vs without uveitis had a higher PsA impact of Disease Score (P  =  .001) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (P  =  .01) and a higher prevalence of HLA-B27 (P < .0001), sacroiliitis on magnetic resonance imaging (P  =  .027), and ocular surface pathology (P  =  .021).

Study details: This retrospective longitudinal study included 406 patients with PsA, of which 4.9% of patients experienced ≥1 episode of uveitis.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. Several authors declared receiving grants, research support, consulting fees, or honoraria for participation in company-sponsored speaker's bureaus from various sources.

Source: De Vicente Delmás A et al. Uveitis in psoriatic arthritis: Study of 406 patients in a single university center and literature review. RMD Open. 2023;9(1):e002781 (Jan 12). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002781

Key clinical point: Uveitis related to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) had a prevalence of approximately 5%, presented as an acute and recurrent disease with anterior and unilateral involvement, and was associated with impaired quality of life and increased functional disability.

Major finding: Uveitis onset was acute in all cases, with 50% being recurrent and 80% being anterior and unilateral. Patients with vs without uveitis had a higher PsA impact of Disease Score (P  =  .001) and Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (P  =  .01) and a higher prevalence of HLA-B27 (P < .0001), sacroiliitis on magnetic resonance imaging (P  =  .027), and ocular surface pathology (P  =  .021).

Study details: This retrospective longitudinal study included 406 patients with PsA, of which 4.9% of patients experienced ≥1 episode of uveitis.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. Several authors declared receiving grants, research support, consulting fees, or honoraria for participation in company-sponsored speaker's bureaus from various sources.

Source: De Vicente Delmás A et al. Uveitis in psoriatic arthritis: Study of 406 patients in a single university center and literature review. RMD Open. 2023;9(1):e002781 (Jan 12). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002781

Key clinical point: Targeted musculoskeletal ultrasound performed by trained dermatologists improved the accuracy of early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnosis and may eventually decrease referral to rheumatologists.

Major finding: Use of musculoskeletal ultrasound changed the sensitivity and specificity of early PsA screening strategy from 88.2% (95% CI 58.1%-94.6%) and 54.4% (95% CI 44.8%-64.1%) to 70.6% (95% CI 38.4%-81.9%) and 90.4% (95% CI 83.9%-95.6%), respectively. Overall, 45 of the 46 patients were cleared of preliminary diagnosis-based PsA suspicion after musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Study details: This was a prospective study including 140 patients with psoriasis who presented to dermatologists with arthralgia, of which 19 patients were diagnosed with PsA by a rheumatologist.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Novartis Pharma. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Grobelski J et al. Prospective double-blind study on the value of musculoskeletal ultrasound by dermatologists as a screening instrument for psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Dec 22). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac702

Key clinical point: Targeted musculoskeletal ultrasound performed by trained dermatologists improved the accuracy of early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnosis and may eventually decrease referral to rheumatologists.

Major finding: Use of musculoskeletal ultrasound changed the sensitivity and specificity of early PsA screening strategy from 88.2% (95% CI 58.1%-94.6%) and 54.4% (95% CI 44.8%-64.1%) to 70.6% (95% CI 38.4%-81.9%) and 90.4% (95% CI 83.9%-95.6%), respectively. Overall, 45 of the 46 patients were cleared of preliminary diagnosis-based PsA suspicion after musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Study details: This was a prospective study including 140 patients with psoriasis who presented to dermatologists with arthralgia, of which 19 patients were diagnosed with PsA by a rheumatologist.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Novartis Pharma. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Grobelski J et al. Prospective double-blind study on the value of musculoskeletal ultrasound by dermatologists as a screening instrument for psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Dec 22). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac702

Key clinical point: Targeted musculoskeletal ultrasound performed by trained dermatologists improved the accuracy of early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) diagnosis and may eventually decrease referral to rheumatologists.

Major finding: Use of musculoskeletal ultrasound changed the sensitivity and specificity of early PsA screening strategy from 88.2% (95% CI 58.1%-94.6%) and 54.4% (95% CI 44.8%-64.1%) to 70.6% (95% CI 38.4%-81.9%) and 90.4% (95% CI 83.9%-95.6%), respectively. Overall, 45 of the 46 patients were cleared of preliminary diagnosis-based PsA suspicion after musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Study details: This was a prospective study including 140 patients with psoriasis who presented to dermatologists with arthralgia, of which 19 patients were diagnosed with PsA by a rheumatologist.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Novartis Pharma. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Grobelski J et al. Prospective double-blind study on the value of musculoskeletal ultrasound by dermatologists as a screening instrument for psoriatic arthritis. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2022 (Dec 22). Doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/keac702

Key clinical point: Ustekinumab and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) demonstrated similar efficacy and persistence and were well tolerated as first-line to third-line biologic treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Over 3 years, treatment with ustekinumab vs TNFi resulted in comparable odds of attaining clinical Disease Activity Index for PsA low disease activity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.89; 95% CI 0.63-1.26) and remission (aOR 0.72; 95% CI 0.50-1.05), similar risk for stopping/switching treatment (adjusted hazard ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.68-1.11), and no clinically relevant difference in serious adverse event rates (6.3% vs 7.2%).

Study details: The data come from an analysis of 895 patients with PsA from PsABio, a prospective observational study, who were prescribed first-line to third-line ustekinumab or a TNFi.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Janssen. Two authors declared being current or former employees of or owning stocks in Johnson & Johnson or Janssen. Several authors reported receiving personal fees, consulting fees, grants, payments, or honoraria from Janssen and various other sources.

Source: Gossec L et al. Long-term effectiveness and persistence of ustekinumab and TNF inhibitors in patients with psoriatic arthritis: Final 3-year results from the PsABio real-world study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Dec 13). Doi: 10.1136/ard-2022-222879

Key clinical point: Ustekinumab and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) demonstrated similar efficacy and persistence and were well tolerated as first-line to third-line biologic treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Over 3 years, treatment with ustekinumab vs TNFi resulted in comparable odds of attaining clinical Disease Activity Index for PsA low disease activity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.89; 95% CI 0.63-1.26) and remission (aOR 0.72; 95% CI 0.50-1.05), similar risk for stopping/switching treatment (adjusted hazard ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.68-1.11), and no clinically relevant difference in serious adverse event rates (6.3% vs 7.2%).

Study details: The data come from an analysis of 895 patients with PsA from PsABio, a prospective observational study, who were prescribed first-line to third-line ustekinumab or a TNFi.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Janssen. Two authors declared being current or former employees of or owning stocks in Johnson & Johnson or Janssen. Several authors reported receiving personal fees, consulting fees, grants, payments, or honoraria from Janssen and various other sources.

Source: Gossec L et al. Long-term effectiveness and persistence of ustekinumab and TNF inhibitors in patients with psoriatic arthritis: Final 3-year results from the PsABio real-world study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Dec 13). Doi: 10.1136/ard-2022-222879

Key clinical point: Ustekinumab and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) demonstrated similar efficacy and persistence and were well tolerated as first-line to third-line biologic treatment for psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Major finding: Over 3 years, treatment with ustekinumab vs TNFi resulted in comparable odds of attaining clinical Disease Activity Index for PsA low disease activity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.89; 95% CI 0.63-1.26) and remission (aOR 0.72; 95% CI 0.50-1.05), similar risk for stopping/switching treatment (adjusted hazard ratio 0.87; 95% CI 0.68-1.11), and no clinically relevant difference in serious adverse event rates (6.3% vs 7.2%).

Study details: The data come from an analysis of 895 patients with PsA from PsABio, a prospective observational study, who were prescribed first-line to third-line ustekinumab or a TNFi.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Janssen. Two authors declared being current or former employees of or owning stocks in Johnson & Johnson or Janssen. Several authors reported receiving personal fees, consulting fees, grants, payments, or honoraria from Janssen and various other sources.

Source: Gossec L et al. Long-term effectiveness and persistence of ustekinumab and TNF inhibitors in patients with psoriatic arthritis: Final 3-year results from the PsABio real-world study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2022 (Dec 13). Doi: 10.1136/ard-2022-222879

Key clinical point: Fluorescence-optical imaging (FOI) successfully detected the early signs of musculoskeletal inflammation in hands and predicted transition from psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at initial stages in patients with psoriasis at risk for PsA.

Major finding: PsA diagnosis was confirmed by clinical evaluations (CE) in 50% of patients with psoriasis at risk for PsA and an additional 30% of patients who were positive on FOI. Compared with previously published annual incidence rates, the incidence rate of PsA was higher among patients positive on FOI but negative on CE (11.8%).

Study details: This was an investigator-initiated prospective two-part observational cohort study including 389 patients with plaque psoriasis who were at risk for PsA.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Fraunhofer ITMP and supported by a research grant from Pfizer Germany. Five authors declared being supported by Fraunhofer ITMP. Several authors reported ties with various sources, including Pfizer. GR Burmester reported being on the editorial board of RMD Open.

Source: Koehm M et al. Fluorescence-optical imaging as a promising easy-to-use imaging biomarker to increase early psoriatic arthritis detection in patients with psoriasis: A cross-sectional cohort study with follow-up. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002682 (Dec 6). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002682

Key clinical point: Fluorescence-optical imaging (FOI) successfully detected the early signs of musculoskeletal inflammation in hands and predicted transition from psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at initial stages in patients with psoriasis at risk for PsA.

Major finding: PsA diagnosis was confirmed by clinical evaluations (CE) in 50% of patients with psoriasis at risk for PsA and an additional 30% of patients who were positive on FOI. Compared with previously published annual incidence rates, the incidence rate of PsA was higher among patients positive on FOI but negative on CE (11.8%).

Study details: This was an investigator-initiated prospective two-part observational cohort study including 389 patients with plaque psoriasis who were at risk for PsA.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Fraunhofer ITMP and supported by a research grant from Pfizer Germany. Five authors declared being supported by Fraunhofer ITMP. Several authors reported ties with various sources, including Pfizer. GR Burmester reported being on the editorial board of RMD Open.

Source: Koehm M et al. Fluorescence-optical imaging as a promising easy-to-use imaging biomarker to increase early psoriatic arthritis detection in patients with psoriasis: A cross-sectional cohort study with follow-up. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002682 (Dec 6). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002682

Key clinical point: Fluorescence-optical imaging (FOI) successfully detected the early signs of musculoskeletal inflammation in hands and predicted transition from psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at initial stages in patients with psoriasis at risk for PsA.

Major finding: PsA diagnosis was confirmed by clinical evaluations (CE) in 50% of patients with psoriasis at risk for PsA and an additional 30% of patients who were positive on FOI. Compared with previously published annual incidence rates, the incidence rate of PsA was higher among patients positive on FOI but negative on CE (11.8%).

Study details: This was an investigator-initiated prospective two-part observational cohort study including 389 patients with plaque psoriasis who were at risk for PsA.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by Fraunhofer ITMP and supported by a research grant from Pfizer Germany. Five authors declared being supported by Fraunhofer ITMP. Several authors reported ties with various sources, including Pfizer. GR Burmester reported being on the editorial board of RMD Open.

Source: Koehm M et al. Fluorescence-optical imaging as a promising easy-to-use imaging biomarker to increase early psoriatic arthritis detection in patients with psoriasis: A cross-sectional cohort study with follow-up. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002682 (Dec 6). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002682

Key clinical point: Patient-reported flares occurred more frequently than physician-reported flares and demonstrated moderate agreement with worsening of disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA), with patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who reported flares having a significantly more active disease.

Major finding: Overall, 27.0% and 17.6% of patients had patient-reported and physician-reported flares, respectively, with patient-reported flare demonstrating 69.8% crude agreement with DAPSA (prevalence adjusted bias adjusted kappa  =  0.40) and patients reporting vs not reporting disease flare indicating a significantly more active disease for all outcomes (P < .001) except skin lesions (P  =  .01).

Study details: This was a longitudinal observational study including 222 patients with PsA.

Disclosures: This study was supported by unrestricted investigator-initiated research grant from Pfizer. Three authors declared receiving funds, research grants, or support from the US National Institutes of Health and other sources.

Source: Sousa M et al. Patient-defined flares and disease activity worsening in 222 patients with psoriatic arthritis from 14 countries. Joint Bone Spine. 2022;90(3):105511 (Dec 15). Doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2022.105511

Key clinical point: Patient-reported flares occurred more frequently than physician-reported flares and demonstrated moderate agreement with worsening of disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA), with patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who reported flares having a significantly more active disease.

Major finding: Overall, 27.0% and 17.6% of patients had patient-reported and physician-reported flares, respectively, with patient-reported flare demonstrating 69.8% crude agreement with DAPSA (prevalence adjusted bias adjusted kappa  =  0.40) and patients reporting vs not reporting disease flare indicating a significantly more active disease for all outcomes (P < .001) except skin lesions (P  =  .01).

Study details: This was a longitudinal observational study including 222 patients with PsA.

Disclosures: This study was supported by unrestricted investigator-initiated research grant from Pfizer. Three authors declared receiving funds, research grants, or support from the US National Institutes of Health and other sources.

Source: Sousa M et al. Patient-defined flares and disease activity worsening in 222 patients with psoriatic arthritis from 14 countries. Joint Bone Spine. 2022;90(3):105511 (Dec 15). Doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2022.105511

Key clinical point: Patient-reported flares occurred more frequently than physician-reported flares and demonstrated moderate agreement with worsening of disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (DAPSA), with patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who reported flares having a significantly more active disease.

Major finding: Overall, 27.0% and 17.6% of patients had patient-reported and physician-reported flares, respectively, with patient-reported flare demonstrating 69.8% crude agreement with DAPSA (prevalence adjusted bias adjusted kappa  =  0.40) and patients reporting vs not reporting disease flare indicating a significantly more active disease for all outcomes (P < .001) except skin lesions (P  =  .01).

Study details: This was a longitudinal observational study including 222 patients with PsA.

Disclosures: This study was supported by unrestricted investigator-initiated research grant from Pfizer. Three authors declared receiving funds, research grants, or support from the US National Institutes of Health and other sources.

Source: Sousa M et al. Patient-defined flares and disease activity worsening in 222 patients with psoriatic arthritis from 14 countries. Joint Bone Spine. 2022;90(3):105511 (Dec 15). Doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2022.105511

Key clinical point: Ultrasound-detected residual inflammation in peripheral articular structures may be present even in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who have achieved stable minimal disease activity (MDA), with residual inflammation being more prevalent in patients with shorter duration of MDA.

Major finding: Despite stable MDA, 54.2% of patients had ≥1 positive Power Doppler (PD) signal in examined tissues, with 19.4% and 23.6% of patients showing ≥1 joint and enthesis with a positive PD signal, respectively. A higher proportion of patients with ≤12 vs >12 months of sustained MDA had ≥1 ultrasound detected PD lesion (55% vs 41%; P  =  .024).

Study details: This cross-sectional study included 72 patients with PsA who were on biologic or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for ≥12 months and in continuous MDA for ≥6 months.

Disclosures: This study did not declare the source of funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Macchioni P et al. Residual inflammation in psoriatic arthritis patients in stable minimal disease activity. Front Med. 2022;9:1096547 (Dec 20). Doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1096547

Key clinical point: Ultrasound-detected residual inflammation in peripheral articular structures may be present even in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who have achieved stable minimal disease activity (MDA), with residual inflammation being more prevalent in patients with shorter duration of MDA.

Major finding: Despite stable MDA, 54.2% of patients had ≥1 positive Power Doppler (PD) signal in examined tissues, with 19.4% and 23.6% of patients showing ≥1 joint and enthesis with a positive PD signal, respectively. A higher proportion of patients with ≤12 vs >12 months of sustained MDA had ≥1 ultrasound detected PD lesion (55% vs 41%; P  =  .024).

Study details: This cross-sectional study included 72 patients with PsA who were on biologic or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for ≥12 months and in continuous MDA for ≥6 months.

Disclosures: This study did not declare the source of funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Macchioni P et al. Residual inflammation in psoriatic arthritis patients in stable minimal disease activity. Front Med. 2022;9:1096547 (Dec 20). Doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1096547

Key clinical point: Ultrasound-detected residual inflammation in peripheral articular structures may be present even in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who have achieved stable minimal disease activity (MDA), with residual inflammation being more prevalent in patients with shorter duration of MDA.

Major finding: Despite stable MDA, 54.2% of patients had ≥1 positive Power Doppler (PD) signal in examined tissues, with 19.4% and 23.6% of patients showing ≥1 joint and enthesis with a positive PD signal, respectively. A higher proportion of patients with ≤12 vs >12 months of sustained MDA had ≥1 ultrasound detected PD lesion (55% vs 41%; P  =  .024).

Study details: This cross-sectional study included 72 patients with PsA who were on biologic or conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for ≥12 months and in continuous MDA for ≥6 months.

Disclosures: This study did not declare the source of funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Macchioni P et al. Residual inflammation in psoriatic arthritis patients in stable minimal disease activity. Front Med. 2022;9:1096547 (Dec 20). Doi: 10.3389/fmed.2022.1096547

Key clinical point: The overall incidence of hematologic malignancies was not higher among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) compared with those who were biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) naive or individuals from the general population.

Major finding: Overall, the incidence rate of hematologic malignancies was similar among patients treated with TNFi vs those who were bDMARD naive (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.96; 95% CI 0.68-1.35) or individuals in the general population (IRR 1.35; 95% CI 0.98-1.86).

Study details: Findings are from a cohort study including patients with PsA who either initiated first TNFi (n = 10,621) or were bDMARD-naive (n = 18,387) and matched comparators from the general population.

Disclosures: This study was supported by NordForsk and FOREUM. B Delcoigne declared being partly employed by ARTIS/Swedish Biologics Register. Several authors reported receiving grants or research support or serving as consultants for or on speaker’s bureaus of various sources.

Source: Cordtz RL et al. Haematological malignancies in patients with psoriatic arthritis overall and treated with TNF inhibitors: A Nordic cohort study. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002776 (Dec 23). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002776

Key clinical point: The overall incidence of hematologic malignancies was not higher among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) compared with those who were biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) naive or individuals from the general population.

Major finding: Overall, the incidence rate of hematologic malignancies was similar among patients treated with TNFi vs those who were bDMARD naive (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.96; 95% CI 0.68-1.35) or individuals in the general population (IRR 1.35; 95% CI 0.98-1.86).

Study details: Findings are from a cohort study including patients with PsA who either initiated first TNFi (n = 10,621) or were bDMARD-naive (n = 18,387) and matched comparators from the general population.

Disclosures: This study was supported by NordForsk and FOREUM. B Delcoigne declared being partly employed by ARTIS/Swedish Biologics Register. Several authors reported receiving grants or research support or serving as consultants for or on speaker’s bureaus of various sources.

Source: Cordtz RL et al. Haematological malignancies in patients with psoriatic arthritis overall and treated with TNF inhibitors: A Nordic cohort study. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002776 (Dec 23). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002776

Key clinical point: The overall incidence of hematologic malignancies was not higher among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) compared with those who were biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) naive or individuals from the general population.

Major finding: Overall, the incidence rate of hematologic malignancies was similar among patients treated with TNFi vs those who were bDMARD naive (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.96; 95% CI 0.68-1.35) or individuals in the general population (IRR 1.35; 95% CI 0.98-1.86).

Study details: Findings are from a cohort study including patients with PsA who either initiated first TNFi (n = 10,621) or were bDMARD-naive (n = 18,387) and matched comparators from the general population.

Disclosures: This study was supported by NordForsk and FOREUM. B Delcoigne declared being partly employed by ARTIS/Swedish Biologics Register. Several authors reported receiving grants or research support or serving as consultants for or on speaker’s bureaus of various sources.

Source: Cordtz RL et al. Haematological malignancies in patients with psoriatic arthritis overall and treated with TNF inhibitors: A Nordic cohort study. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002776 (Dec 23). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002776

Key clinical point: The failure to achieve minimal disease activity (MDA) in the first year after the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was associated with worse health-related quality of life and health status, functional impairment, fatigue, pain, and higher anxiety and depression.

Major finding: Compared with patients who achieved sustained MDA in the first year after diagnosis, those who did not achieve MDA had higher scores for pain (estimated mean difference [β] 35.38), fatigue (β 17.88), and functional ability (β 0.81; all P < .001) and higher anxiety and depression (both P < .001) during follow-up, which persisted despite treatment intensification.

Study details: This prospective cohort study included 240 patients with newly diagnosed PsA with oligoarthritis or polyarthritis  who were disease-modifying antirheumatic drug naive.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by UCB Pharma. S Welby and AR Prickett declared being stockholders of UCB.

Source: Snoeck Henkemans SVJ et al. Importance of quick attainment of minimal disease activity for a positive impact on lives of patients with psoriatic arthritis. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002706 (Dec 7). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002706

Key clinical point: The failure to achieve minimal disease activity (MDA) in the first year after the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was associated with worse health-related quality of life and health status, functional impairment, fatigue, pain, and higher anxiety and depression.

Major finding: Compared with patients who achieved sustained MDA in the first year after diagnosis, those who did not achieve MDA had higher scores for pain (estimated mean difference [β] 35.38), fatigue (β 17.88), and functional ability (β 0.81; all P < .001) and higher anxiety and depression (both P < .001) during follow-up, which persisted despite treatment intensification.

Study details: This prospective cohort study included 240 patients with newly diagnosed PsA with oligoarthritis or polyarthritis  who were disease-modifying antirheumatic drug naive.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by UCB Pharma. S Welby and AR Prickett declared being stockholders of UCB.

Source: Snoeck Henkemans SVJ et al. Importance of quick attainment of minimal disease activity for a positive impact on lives of patients with psoriatic arthritis. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002706 (Dec 7). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002706

Key clinical point: The failure to achieve minimal disease activity (MDA) in the first year after the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was associated with worse health-related quality of life and health status, functional impairment, fatigue, pain, and higher anxiety and depression.

Major finding: Compared with patients who achieved sustained MDA in the first year after diagnosis, those who did not achieve MDA had higher scores for pain (estimated mean difference [β] 35.38), fatigue (β 17.88), and functional ability (β 0.81; all P < .001) and higher anxiety and depression (both P < .001) during follow-up, which persisted despite treatment intensification.

Study details: This prospective cohort study included 240 patients with newly diagnosed PsA with oligoarthritis or polyarthritis  who were disease-modifying antirheumatic drug naive.

Disclosures: This study was sponsored by UCB Pharma. S Welby and AR Prickett declared being stockholders of UCB.

Source: Snoeck Henkemans SVJ et al. Importance of quick attainment of minimal disease activity for a positive impact on lives of patients with psoriatic arthritis. RMD Open. 2022;8(2):e002706 (Dec 7). Doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2022-002706

Key clinical point: The addition of methotrexate or maintenance of ongoing methotrexate did not significantly enhance the efficacy of ustekinumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), suggesting ustekinumab as an effective therapy for PsA independent of methotrexate.

Major finding: Ustekinumab monotherapy demonstrated non-inferiority over ustekinumab+methotrexate with a comparable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) at week 24 (mean 2.9 vs 3.1; Mann-Whitney estimator 0.5426) and at week 52 (mean 2.8 vs 3.1; Mann-Whitney estimator 0.5461). Overall, serious adverse events occurred in 9% of patients in both treatment groups, but no deaths were reported.

Study details: Findings are from MUST, a phase 3b trial including 173 ustekinumab-naive patients with active PsA who were randomly assigned to receive ustekinumab+methotrexate or ustekinumab+placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Janssen Cilag. Several authors reported receiving grants, contracts, travel support, or honoraria or fees for serving as speakers, consultants, or advisory board members for various sources.

Source: Koehm M et al. Methotrexate plus ustekinumab versus ustekinumab monotherapy in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (MUST): A randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3b, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023;5(1):E14-E23 (Jan 1). Doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(22)00329-0

Key clinical point: The addition of methotrexate or maintenance of ongoing methotrexate did not significantly enhance the efficacy of ustekinumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), suggesting ustekinumab as an effective therapy for PsA independent of methotrexate.

Major finding: Ustekinumab monotherapy demonstrated non-inferiority over ustekinumab+methotrexate with a comparable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) at week 24 (mean 2.9 vs 3.1; Mann-Whitney estimator 0.5426) and at week 52 (mean 2.8 vs 3.1; Mann-Whitney estimator 0.5461). Overall, serious adverse events occurred in 9% of patients in both treatment groups, but no deaths were reported.

Study details: Findings are from MUST, a phase 3b trial including 173 ustekinumab-naive patients with active PsA who were randomly assigned to receive ustekinumab+methotrexate or ustekinumab+placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Janssen Cilag. Several authors reported receiving grants, contracts, travel support, or honoraria or fees for serving as speakers, consultants, or advisory board members for various sources.

Source: Koehm M et al. Methotrexate plus ustekinumab versus ustekinumab monotherapy in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (MUST): A randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3b, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023;5(1):E14-E23 (Jan 1). Doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(22)00329-0

Key clinical point: The addition of methotrexate or maintenance of ongoing methotrexate did not significantly enhance the efficacy of ustekinumab in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), suggesting ustekinumab as an effective therapy for PsA independent of methotrexate.

Major finding: Ustekinumab monotherapy demonstrated non-inferiority over ustekinumab+methotrexate with a comparable Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) at week 24 (mean 2.9 vs 3.1; Mann-Whitney estimator 0.5426) and at week 52 (mean 2.8 vs 3.1; Mann-Whitney estimator 0.5461). Overall, serious adverse events occurred in 9% of patients in both treatment groups, but no deaths were reported.

Study details: Findings are from MUST, a phase 3b trial including 173 ustekinumab-naive patients with active PsA who were randomly assigned to receive ustekinumab+methotrexate or ustekinumab+placebo.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Janssen Cilag. Several authors reported receiving grants, contracts, travel support, or honoraria or fees for serving as speakers, consultants, or advisory board members for various sources.

Source: Koehm M et al. Methotrexate plus ustekinumab versus ustekinumab monotherapy in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (MUST): A randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3b, non-inferiority trial. Lancet Rheumatol. 2023;5(1):E14-E23 (Jan 1). Doi: 10.1016/S2665-9913(22)00329-0

The bacterial diversity in lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with psoriasis (PsO) with or without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was significantly lower than that of healthy control skin, based on data from 74 individuals.

Previous studies in humans and animals have suggested that microbes play a role in PsO pathogenesis, but microbial analyses of PsA are lacking, wrote Alba Boix-Amorós, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and colleagues.

“The passage from PsO to PsA may, in part, be driven by microbial triggers, which deserves further investigation,” they wrote.

In a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the researchers recruited 23 patients with PsO and 31 with PsA from the dermatology and rheumatology clinics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health in New York. An additional 20 healthy individuals with no history of PsA or PsO were recruited from within NYU to serve as controls. All participants were aged 18 years and older, and more than 75% were White. Males made up 65.4%, 47.8%, and 55.0% of the PsA, PsO, and control groups.

The researchers collected skin swabs from lesional and nonlesional skin of individuals with PsO and PsA and from the upper and lower extremities of the healthy controls. The microbiota analysis included 148 samples that were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

The microbiome diversity was significantly greater in healthy skin, compared with lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin (P < .05 for both). Specifically, levels of Cutibacterium and Kocuria were significantly higher in healthy skin than in psoriatic skin (P = .016 and P = .011, respectively), while psoriatic skin showed higher levels of Staphylococcus.

No significant microbiome differences were noted between lesional and nonlesional PsO and PsA samples. The finding that the microbiome of nonlesional psoriatic skin was more similar to lesional psoriatic skin than to healthy skin was unexpected, and suggests the development of microbial dysbiosis in psoriatic skin independent of the presence of lesions, the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found that levels of Corynebacterium in nonlesional PsA samples were significantly elevated, compared with nonlesional PsO samples (P < .05), which suggests a possible role for the microbe as a biomarker for disease progression, the researchers said.

“One important application of these data is the potential development of therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriatic disease and/or the prevention of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the combination of samples from upper and lower extremities and the exclusion of data from the scalp, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the use of only 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which presents a less comprehensive view of the microbiome, they said.

However, the results support the role of the skin microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis, with details on microbiota across the psoriatic disease spectrum, they said.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Boix-Amorós had no financial conflicts to disclose. Several coauthors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and UCB.

The bacterial diversity in lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with psoriasis (PsO) with or without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was significantly lower than that of healthy control skin, based on data from 74 individuals.

Previous studies in humans and animals have suggested that microbes play a role in PsO pathogenesis, but microbial analyses of PsA are lacking, wrote Alba Boix-Amorós, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and colleagues.

“The passage from PsO to PsA may, in part, be driven by microbial triggers, which deserves further investigation,” they wrote.

In a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the researchers recruited 23 patients with PsO and 31 with PsA from the dermatology and rheumatology clinics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health in New York. An additional 20 healthy individuals with no history of PsA or PsO were recruited from within NYU to serve as controls. All participants were aged 18 years and older, and more than 75% were White. Males made up 65.4%, 47.8%, and 55.0% of the PsA, PsO, and control groups.

The researchers collected skin swabs from lesional and nonlesional skin of individuals with PsO and PsA and from the upper and lower extremities of the healthy controls. The microbiota analysis included 148 samples that were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

The microbiome diversity was significantly greater in healthy skin, compared with lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin (P < .05 for both). Specifically, levels of Cutibacterium and Kocuria were significantly higher in healthy skin than in psoriatic skin (P = .016 and P = .011, respectively), while psoriatic skin showed higher levels of Staphylococcus.

No significant microbiome differences were noted between lesional and nonlesional PsO and PsA samples. The finding that the microbiome of nonlesional psoriatic skin was more similar to lesional psoriatic skin than to healthy skin was unexpected, and suggests the development of microbial dysbiosis in psoriatic skin independent of the presence of lesions, the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found that levels of Corynebacterium in nonlesional PsA samples were significantly elevated, compared with nonlesional PsO samples (P < .05), which suggests a possible role for the microbe as a biomarker for disease progression, the researchers said.

“One important application of these data is the potential development of therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriatic disease and/or the prevention of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the combination of samples from upper and lower extremities and the exclusion of data from the scalp, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the use of only 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which presents a less comprehensive view of the microbiome, they said.

However, the results support the role of the skin microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis, with details on microbiota across the psoriatic disease spectrum, they said.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Boix-Amorós had no financial conflicts to disclose. Several coauthors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and UCB.

The bacterial diversity in lesional and nonlesional skin of patients with psoriasis (PsO) with or without psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was significantly lower than that of healthy control skin, based on data from 74 individuals.

Previous studies in humans and animals have suggested that microbes play a role in PsO pathogenesis, but microbial analyses of PsA are lacking, wrote Alba Boix-Amorós, PhD, of the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, and colleagues.

“The passage from PsO to PsA may, in part, be driven by microbial triggers, which deserves further investigation,” they wrote.

In a study published in Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, the researchers recruited 23 patients with PsO and 31 with PsA from the dermatology and rheumatology clinics at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Health in New York. An additional 20 healthy individuals with no history of PsA or PsO were recruited from within NYU to serve as controls. All participants were aged 18 years and older, and more than 75% were White. Males made up 65.4%, 47.8%, and 55.0% of the PsA, PsO, and control groups.

The researchers collected skin swabs from lesional and nonlesional skin of individuals with PsO and PsA and from the upper and lower extremities of the healthy controls. The microbiota analysis included 148 samples that were analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing.

The microbiome diversity was significantly greater in healthy skin, compared with lesional and nonlesional psoriatic skin (P < .05 for both). Specifically, levels of Cutibacterium and Kocuria were significantly higher in healthy skin than in psoriatic skin (P = .016 and P = .011, respectively), while psoriatic skin showed higher levels of Staphylococcus.

No significant microbiome differences were noted between lesional and nonlesional PsO and PsA samples. The finding that the microbiome of nonlesional psoriatic skin was more similar to lesional psoriatic skin than to healthy skin was unexpected, and suggests the development of microbial dysbiosis in psoriatic skin independent of the presence of lesions, the researchers wrote.

The researchers also found that levels of Corynebacterium in nonlesional PsA samples were significantly elevated, compared with nonlesional PsO samples (P < .05), which suggests a possible role for the microbe as a biomarker for disease progression, the researchers said.

“One important application of these data is the potential development of therapeutic options for the treatment of psoriatic disease and/or the prevention of PsA,” the researchers wrote in their discussion.

The findings were limited by several factors, including the combination of samples from upper and lower extremities and the exclusion of data from the scalp, the researchers noted. Other limitations included the use of only 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which presents a less comprehensive view of the microbiome, they said.

However, the results support the role of the skin microbiome in psoriasis pathogenesis, with details on microbiota across the psoriatic disease spectrum, they said.

The study received no outside funding. Dr. Boix-Amorós had no financial conflicts to disclose. Several coauthors disclosed financial relationships with pharmaceutical companies including Janssen, AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi, and UCB.