title: Sensitivity of the classification of psoriatic arthritis criteria in early psoriatic arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the sensitivity of the CASPAR criteria in patients with early psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Consecutive patients with a clinical diagnosis of PsA and a disease duration < 12 months were enrolled for study. The proportion of patients meeting the criteria (i.e., the sensitivity) was determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-four patients with early PsA (23 women, 21 men; mean age 51 yrs, range 16-90) were enrolled. Mean disease duration (+/- SD) was 15.8 +/- 14.3 weeks (range 0.1-50.9 wks). Thirty-four patients satisfied the criteria at the first visit (sensitivity 77.3%). Most patients met the skin and laboratory criterion, i.e., they were rheumatoid factor-negative, while only 2 satisfied the radiologic criterion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest a less satisfactory performance of the CASPAR criteria when applied in early PsA. Lower sensitivity could mainly depend on the small proportion of patients fulfilling the radiologic criterion.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department of Lucania, Ospedale San Carlo, Contrada Macchia Romana, 85100 Potenza, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: D'Angelo
authors.forename: Gianna Angela
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Mennillo
authors.forename: Maria Stefania
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Cutro
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leccese
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Padula
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Olivieri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018450:Disease Progression; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D012217:Rheumatoid Factor