title: Clinical potential of apremilast in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.
abstract: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a frequent chronic inflammatory disease characterized by joint and skin involvement, and by typical extra-articular manifestations. Although the pathogenesis of PsA is still under investigation, the available evidence suggests the importance of the patient's genetic background, microbial or environmental triggers, and an imbalance in the adaptive and acquired immune system, resulting in the production of inflammatory mediators. New therapeutic approaches have been proposed, among them the use of modulators of intracellular signals and gene transcription such as PDE4-inhibiting compounds, which are able to modulate the activity of transcription factors such as CREB and NF-κB and therefore the synthesis of inflammatory mediators, resulting in immunoregulation. This paper summarizes the mechanism of action of apremilast, a PDE4 inhibitor, and the clinical data available on its clinical efficacy and safety profile in the treatment of PsA patients.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Policlinico of University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cauli
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Policlinico of University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porru
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Policlinico of University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Piga
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Policlinico of University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vacca
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Policlinico of University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Grazia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dessole
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Policlinico of University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mathieu
keywords: apremilast; psoriatic arthritis; therapy