A recent study revealed that ultrasound can detect active enthesitis and synovitis in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who are considered to be within the therapeutic target based on clinical assessments. The study included 51 patients with PsA undergoing treatment with biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs for at least six months. Despite being in treatment target with low disease activity (Disease Activity index for Psoriatic Arthritis <14), 19.6% of participants showed ultrasound evidence of active enthesitis, and 15.7% displayed signs of active synovitis.
Another study from France involving patients with PsA demonstrated that initiating targeted therapies significantly reduced the use of symptomatic treatments such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), opioid analgesics, prednisone, and methotrexate. It also decreased healthcare consumption, including hospitalizations and sick leaves. The research found that patients on TNF inhibitors were slightly more likely to discontinue NSAIDs and prednisone compared to those on IL17 inhibitors. However, they were less likely to discontinue methotrexate compared to those on IL17 or IL12/23 inhibitors. These findings emphasize the benefits of targeted therapies in reducing the overall treatment burden for patients with PsA.
Reference: Johnson V. Ultrasound Detects Active Enthesitis, Synovitis While in Remission from PsA. HCP Live. Published August 16, 2024. Accessed September 3, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/ultrasound-active-enthesitis-synovitis-remission-psa
Link: https://www.hcplive.com/view/ultrasound-active-enthesitis-synovitis-remission-psa
