title: Clinical and Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound Echography Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients after One Year of Continuous Therapy with Anti-TNF Drugs.
abstract: Background. We wanted to verify retrospectively the proportion of patients with psoriatic arthritis who were in remission after 1 year of continuous therapy with either etanercept or adalimumab. Remission was defined as the absence of both clinical and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) findings suggestive of joint inflammation. Patients and Methods. The data of twenty-five patients with psoriatic arthritis were available for the clinical and CEUS evaluations before and after 1 year of continuous therapy with etanercept or adalimumab. The count of swollen (ACR66), tender (ACR68), and active inflamed joints (AJC) was used to measure the severity of joint involvement. PASI was used to score the severity of psoriasis. HAQ, DLQI, VAS pain, and VAS itching were administered to each patient before starting therapy and every 3 months, up to 1 year. Results. Eight (32%) out of twenty-five patients were in remission after 1 year of therapy with etanercept or adalimumab. A significant reduction of all clinical variables analysed was seen during the course of therapy. Conclusion. Although a significant proportion of patients achieved remission of arthritis after 1 year of effective anti-TNF therapy, the majority of them continued to have either clinical or CEUS findings suggestive of persistence of joint inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute (IRCCS), Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7752-4337
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonifati
authors.affiliation: Radiodiagnostic Service, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute (IRCCS), 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Elia
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute (IRCCS), Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2811-781X
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Graceffa
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, 00151 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceralli
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Study and Treatment of Psoriasis, Department of Clinical Dermatology, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute (IRCCS), Via Elio Chianesi 53, 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maiani
authors.affiliation: Radiodiagnostic Service, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute (IRCCS), 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Mutiis
authors.affiliation: Radiodiagnostic Service, San Gallicano Dermatologic Institute (IRCCS), 00144 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Solivetti