title: A multicentre study on high-frequency ultrasound evaluation of the skin and joints in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with infliximab.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Our objective was to describe the ultrasound features of patients with PsA in joints and skin and their changes after treatment with infliximab.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eight hospitals recruited PsA active patients. Clinical (joint count for pain, TJC, and swelling, SJC, pain VAS, ESR, C-reactive protein and PASI) and US variables (plaque thickness, PD signal of dermal lesions, synovitis, erosions, and PD signal, assessed by 4-category ordinal scales) were independently recorded at baseline and 4, 12 and 24-week after starting treatment with infliximab. The results were analysed with paired T, Wilcoxon test, ANOVA and marginal homogeneity test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Changes in 24 patients from baseline to last available data were significant for clinical variables, pain VAS, TJC and SJC as well as for ESR, CRP (all p<0.0005). Dermatological PASI changed from 14.6±14.9 to 2.1±4.1 and plaque thickness from 3.34±1.75 mm to 1.74±0.96 mm (both p<0.0005); synovitis and PD signal improved (both p<0.0005). Psoriatic plaque PD improved across the study (p<0.0005) with no signal increasing from 36.4% to 88.9% and positive PD signal decreasing from 63.6% to 11.1% of the plaques.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with anti-TNF-α infliximab improves the symptoms of patients with PsA at joint and psoriatic skin levels from a clinical and ultrasonographic perspective.
authors.affiliation: Reumatology Unit, Hospital General Vall d'Hebrón, Barcelona, Spain. jjagor@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Juan José
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: De Agustín
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moragues
authors.forename: Eugenio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Miguel
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Möller
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acebes
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naredo
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uson
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rejon
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mayordomo
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garrido
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015588:Observer Variation; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013030:Spain; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000069285:Infliximab