2011 Portuguese recommendations for the use of biological therapies in patients with psoriatic arthritis.
OBJECTIVE
To develop recommendations for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with biological therapies, endorsed by the Portuguese Society of Rheumatology.


METHODS
These treatment recommendations were formulated by Portuguese rheumatologists based on literature evidence and consensus opinion. A draft of the recommendations was first circulated to all Portuguese rheumatologists and their suggestions were incorporated in the draft. At a national meeting the recommendations were discussed and all attending rheumatologists voted on the level of agreement for each recommendation. A second draft was again circulated before publication.


RESULTS
A consensus was achieved regarding the initiation, assessment of response and switching biological therapies in patients with PsA. Specific recommendations were developed for several disease domains: peripheral arthritis, axial disease, enthesitis and dactylitis.


CONCLUSIONS
These recommendations may be used for guidance in deciding which patients with PsA should be treated with biological therapies. They cover a rapidly evolving area of therapeutic intervention. As more evidence becomes available and more biological therapies are licensed, these recommendations will have to be updated.
Serviço de Reumatologia, Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra, Praceta Prof. Mota Pinto, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal. pedrommcmachado@gmail.com
Pedro
P
Machado
Mónica
M
Bogas
Ana
A
Ribeiro
José
J
Costa
Adriano
A
Neto
Alexandre
A
Sepriano
Ana
A
Raposo
Ana Rita
AR
Cravo
António
A
Vilar
Carolina
C
Furtado
Catarina
C
Ambrósio
Cláudia
C
Miguel
Cláudia
C
Vaz
Cristina
C
Catita
Dolores
D
Nour
Domingos
D
Araújo
Elsa
E
Vieira-Sousa
Filipa
F
Teixeira
Filipe
F
Brandão
Helena
H
Canhão
Inês
I
Cordeiro
Inês
I
Gonçalves
Joana
J
Ferreira
João Eurico
JE
Fonseca
José Alberto Pereira
JA
da Silva
José
J
Romeu
Júlia
J
Ferreira
Lúcia
L
Costa
Luís
L
Maurício
Luís
L
Cunha-Miranda
Manuela
M
Parente
Margarida
M
Coutinho
Margarida
M
Cruz
Margarida
M
Oliveira
Maria João
MJ
Salvador
Maria José
MJ
Santos
Patrícia
P
Pinto
Paula
P
Valente
Pedro
P
Abreu
Raquel
R
Roque
Sofia
S
Ramiro
Susana
S
Capela
Vera
V
Las
Anabela
A
Barcelos
D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000628:therapy*; D001691:Biological Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans