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Skin Involvement in PsA and Disease Burden

J Rheumatol; ePub 2017 Jun 15; Mease, et al

Substantial skin involvement (body surface area [BSA] >3%) is associated with greater psoriatic arthritis (PsA) disease burden, underscoring the importance of assessing and effectively managing psoriasis in patients with PsA because this may be a contributing factor in PsA severity, according to a recent study. Using the Corrona PsA/Spondyloarthritis Registry, patient characteristics, disease activity, and patient-reported outcomes at registry enrollment were assessed for patients with PsA aged ≥18 years with BSA > 3% vs ≤ 3%. This analysis included 1,240 patients with PsA with known BSA level (n=451, BSA >3%; n=789, BSA≤ 3%). Researchers found that after adjusting for potential confounding variables, patients with BSA >3% vs ≤3% had greater patient-reported pain and fatigue and higher Health Assessment Questionnaire scores, were 1.7 times more likely not to be in modified minimal disease activity, and were 2.1 times more likely to have overall work impairment.

Citation:

Mease PJ, Palmer JB, Etzel CJ, et al. Clinical and patient-reported outcomes in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) by body surface area affected by psoriasis: Results from the Corrona PsA/Spondyloarthritis Registry. [Published online ahead of print June 15, 2017]. J Rheumatol. doi:10.3899/jrheum.160963.