New study results from British researchers show that dactylitis may be a clinical indicator of an aggressive phenotype of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). That phenotype is marked by a significantly greater swollen joint count, tender joint count, C-reactive protein, erosive damage, and ultrasound synovitis in very early disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD)-naive PsA.
The dactylitis study is noted by Dr Saakshi Khattri, assistant professor of rheumatology and dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, as one of the key findings on PsA presented at ACR Convergence 2020, the American College of Rheumatology's first all-virtual annual meeting. Researchers from Leeds, United Kingdom, concluded that dactylitis may help differentiate risk among patients in an early disease stage.
Another study from researchers in the UK also addresses very early DMARD-naive PsA patients. It found that clinically, swollen joints are linked to power Doppler‒detected synovitis, but tender, nonswollen joints are not.
Also in this ReCAP, Dr Khattri discusses a population-based study from the Mayo Clinic that shows that patients with a family history of psoriasis and severe psoriasis experience a delay in transitioning to PsA. She highlights an interim report about an emerging risk-prediction model that may improve early detection of PsA. Finally, Dr Khattri shares a quality-of-life survey from the National Psoriasis Foundation about the prevalence of unacceptable symptom states in PsA, which reinforces that PsA is far from adequately treated.
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Saakshi Khattri, MBBS, MD, Assistant Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Rheumatology and Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; Director, Center for Connective Tissue Diseases at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
Saakshi Khattri, MBBS, MD, has disclosed the following relevant financial relationships:
Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant, or trustee for: Novartis
Serve(d) as a speaker or a member of a speakers bureau for: Janssen
Received research grant from: Pfizer
Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Pfizer; Novartis.