Literature on Psoriatic Arthritis

Related ArticlesAnalgesic and disease modifying effects of interferential current in psoriatic arthritis.

Rheumatol Int. 2006 Jan 24;:1-4

Authors: Walker UA, Uhl M, Weiner SM, Warnatz K, Lange-Nolde A, Dertinger H, Peter HH, Jurenz SA

Interferential current (IFC) was suggested to improve the skin manifestations of psoriasis vulgaris, possibly by enhancing the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP. We assessed the efficacy of IFC on psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Nine consecutive patients were analyzed at baseline and after 16 weeks of IFC therapy. Bipolar IFC was applied twice daily to hands, feet plus all affected joints. IFC improved SF-36 assessed body pain, but not other SF-36 subscales. Morning stiffness, tender joint counts, and physician assessed disease activity improved. In contrast, visual analogue scale assessed pain, CRP and ESR measurements were unchanged. MRI of the most affected hand or foot documented a tendency towards worsened tendinitis, soft tissue swelling, and new joint space narrowing and erosions. Bone scintigraphy showed a trend towards deterioration. New joints became inflamed within treated sites. Thus IFC has analgesic effects in PsA, but does not have a satisfactory disease modifying effect.

PMID: 16432686 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Related ArticlesProblems with definitions of disease patterns in psoriatic arthritis.

J Rheumatol. 2006 Jan;33(1):198-9; author reply 199

Authors: Le Goff P

PMID: 16395770 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Related ArticlesHealthcare and burden of disease in psoriatic arthritis. A comparison with rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.

J Rheumatol. 2006 Jan;33(1):86-90

Authors: Zink A, Thiele K, Huscher D, Listing J, Sieper J, Krause A, Gromnica-Ihle E, von Hinueber U, Wassenberg S, Genth E, Schneider M,

OBJECTIVE: To compare quality of life and treatment among patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated by German rheumatologists. METHODS: Data for outpatients with PsA (n = 1863), RA (n = 9627), or AS (n = 1378) enrolled in the national database of the German collaborative arthritis centers in the year 2002 were analyzed. Among those with PsA, 2 subgroups with predominantly peripheral arthritis (n = 1612) and predominantly axial disease (n = 251) were distinguished. RESULTS: We found a high burden of illness in patients with PsA treated by rheumatologists. Among the 2 subgroups, those with axial PsA had worse outcomes (pain, function) than those with peripheral PsA. However, compared with RA and AS, physician ratings of disease activity and severity were lower in PsA. Concerning access to rheumatology care, there were similarities between AS and axial PsA, with very long disease duration at first visit (mean of about 6 yrs), versus RA and peripheral PsA, with shorter duration (1.6 and 2.5 yrs, respectively). A majority (84%) of patients with PsA were treated with disease modifying antirheumatic drugs. Thirty percent of the patients with PsA currently were under therapy with glucocorticoids, mainly (89%) with a dose

PMID: 16395755 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Related ArticlesPsoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: immunological aspects and therapeutic guidelines.

Clin Exp Rheumatol. 2006 Jan-Feb;24(1 Suppl 40):S72-8

Authors: Griffiths CE, Iaccarino L, Naldi L, Olivieri I, Pipitone N, Salvarani C, Doria A

Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disease that affects 1-3% of the European population. Chronic plaque psoriasis, the commonest form of the condition - affecting the majority of patients - usually manifests as red, heavily scaled plaques on elbows, knees, scalp and lower back, but any skin surface may be affected. Psoriasis is associated with an inflammatory sero-negative arthritis, namely “psoriatic arthritis”, in approximately 15%of patients with psoriasis and occurs more commonly in people with inflammatory bowel disease such as patients with Crohn’s disease. Several studies have demonstrated the role of genetic predisposition, innate and adaptive immunity in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. There is considerable evidence that innate immunity and specifically a dysregulation of the innate immune response is central to the development of psoriasis. The role of TNFalpha is particularly intriguing. The evidence includes further observations that a variety of anti-TNF approaches such as monoclonal antibodies and fusion proteins of soluble TNF receptors are effective therapies both in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In this review, in addition to pathogenetic aspects, some preliminary guidelines for the use of anti-TNFalpha therapy in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis will be discussed.

PMID: 16466629 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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