Literature on Psoriatic Arthritis

Related ArticlesUpdate on anti-tumor necrosis factor therapy in the spondyloarthropathies including psoriatic arthritis.

Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006 Jul;18(4):347-53

Authors: Kavanaugh A, Tutuncu Z, Catalan-Sanchez T

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The introduction of the macromolecule tumor necrosis factor inhibitors etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab has proven very successful for patients with spondyloarthropathies. The greatest experience has accrued in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. This paper reviews data from clinical trials with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. RECENT FINDINGS: Treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors has not only resulted in substantial improvement in the signs and symptoms of arthritis but has also improved functional status and quality of life in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Improvements in associated inflammatory features, such as enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis and uveitis in ankylosing spondylitis, have also been observed. Moreover, treatment has been shown to inhibit the progression of radiographic joint damage in psoriatic arthritis and to attenuate spinal inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis. The notable success of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors has not only changed the treatment paradigms for these conditions but has also stimulated studies aimed at improving diagnosis, prognostic stratification, and other aspects of clinical care. SUMMARY: The introduction of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors for patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis has had a tremendous impact on daily clinical care.

PMID: 16763453 [PubMed - in process]

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Related ArticlesClinical assessment in the spondyloarthropathies, including psoriatic arthritis.

Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2006 Jul;18(4):354-8

Authors: Van den Bosch F, Cryssen BV, Mielants H

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The different diseases of the spondyloarthropathy concept share common clinical characteristics. Nevertheless, the assessment of disease activity/severity in an individual patient remains difficult. Specific research is starting to focus on the development of valid, feasible and reliable outcome tools that are sensitive to change. RECENT FINDINGS: No global assessment instrument is available that evaluates the whole disease spectrum in spondyloarthropathy. The majority of tools are designed to measure a specific aspect of the disease. The Assessments in Ankylosing Spondylitis international working group response criteria have been validated in multiple trials and more stringent criteria are now emerging to describe the major responses seen with biologic agents. The assessment of peripheral arthritis is still essentially borrowed from other rheumatologic conditions with some modification as to the number of joints that need to be evaluated. With regard to the assessment of specific features such as enthesitis and dactylitis, new methods are proposed that await validation. SUMMARY: New assessment tools or modifications to existing tools have been described, but most still need validation and general acceptance. The debate is ongoing as to whether one should evaluate the different aspects of the spondyloarthropathies separately or an ‘all-in’ assessment tool should be constructed.

PMID: 16763454 [PubMed - in process]

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