A multicentre study on high-frequency ultrasound evaluation of the skin and joints in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with infliximab

CER5216
2012 Vol.30, N°6
PI 0879, PF 0885
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PMID: 23020866 [PubMed]

Received: 03/11/2011
Accepted : 24/01/2012
In Press: 17/12/2012
Published: 17/12/2012

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:
Our objective was to describe the ultrasound features of patients with PsA in joints and skin and their changes after treatment with infliximab.
METHODS:
Eight hospitals recruited PsA active patients. Clinical (joint count for pain, TJC, and swelling, SJC, pain VAS, ESR, C-reactive protein and PASI) and US variables (plaque thickness, PD signal of dermal lesions, synovitis, erosions, and PD signal, assessed by 4-category ordinal scales) were independently recorded at baseline and 4, 12 and 24-week after starting treatment with infliximab. The results were analysed with paired T, Wilcoxon test, ANOVA and marginal homogeneity test.
RESULTS:
Changes in 24 patients from baseline to last available data were significant for clinical variables, pain VAS, TJC and SJC as well as for ESR, CRP (all p<0.0005). Dermatological PASI changed from 14.6±14.9 to 2.1±4.1 and plaque thickness from 3.34±1.75 mm to 1.74±0.96 mm (both p<0.0005); synovitis and PD signal improved (both p<0.0005). Psoriatic plaque PD improved across the study (p<0.0005) with no signal increasing from 36.4% to 88.9% and positive PD signal decreasing from 63.6% to 11.1% of the plaques.
CONCLUSIONS:
Treatment with anti-TNF-α infliximab improves the symptoms of patients with PsA at joint and psoriatic skin levels from a clinical and ultrasonographic perspective.