Key clinical point: Patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who received ustekinumab for 160 weeks showed rapid and sustained improvements in the signs and symptoms of PsA.
Major finding: A decrease in both tender joint count (TJC; 8.0 to 5.8) and swollen joint count (SJC; 4.5 to 3.1) was observed from baseline to week 4, with further decrease until week 28. Improvements were sustained up to week 160 (TJC 1.0; SJC 0.4). Minimal disease activity was achieved by 31.9% of patients at week 28 and 33.6% of patients at week 52.
Study details: Findings are from the prospective, non-interventional SUSTAIN study including 129 patients with active PsA and a previous inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs who were followed up to week 160.
Disclosures: The SUSTAIN study was funded by Janssen-Cilag GmbH. Three authors declared being employees of Janssen-Cilag GmbH and holding stocks in Johnson and Johnson, the parent company of Janssen. The other authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Wendler J et al. Ustekinumab is rapid-acting and is an effective long-term treatment for patients with active psoriatic arthritis: Real-world evidence from the non-interventional SUSTAIN study. Rheumatol Ther. 2022 (Sep 6). Doi: 10.1007/s40744-022-00484-3