Key clinical point: Serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) showed no value as a biomarker either for disease activity or for monitoring in relation to anti-inflammatory treatment in patients with peripheral psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Major finding: Overall, the mean serum NGAL reduced by 11% after 12 months of treatment with any disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD), with no clear trend of a clinically significant increase or decrease after 12 months of treatment with conventional-synthetic DMARDs, tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, or interleukin-17 inhibitors. The changes in NGAL levels showed no correlation with changes in PsA outcomes (Spearman correlation coefficients close to 0.0).
Study details: This exploratory prospective cohort study included 117 patients with peripheral PsA who initiated conventional synthetic or biologic DMARDs, 20 patients with psoriasis without arthritis who did not receive systemic treatment, and 20 control individuals.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the Danish Rheumatism Association and others. Five authors reported ties with various sources. The other authors declared no conflict of interests.
Source: Stisen ZR et al. Treatment-related changes in serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in psoriatic arthritis: Results from the PIPA cohort study. Scand J Rheumatol. 2023;1-8 (Jun 20). Doi: 10.1080/03009742.2023.2216046.