Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) often follows psoriasis but is usually underdiagnosed because of the insidious onset of joint symptoms. Both skin and joint manifestations should be adequately controlled, a key challenge. The Psoriatic Arthritis Screening and Evaluation (PASE) questionnaire is a self-report instrument that is utilized for identifying patients with psoriasis at risk of PsA. In the current analysis, patients from the POETYK PSO-1 and PSO-2 trials who screened positive on the PASE (≥ 47) and had musculoskeletal symptoms were examined in order to evaluate the effect of deucravacitinib versus placebo and apremilast on joint-related symptoms.
Both POETYK PSO-1 (NCT03624127) and PSO-2 (NCT03611751) trials included patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who were administered the PASE questionnaire upon screening. Individuals who screened positive (PASE score ≥ 47) were included in the sub-analysis. Pain and total burden of musculoskeletal symptoms were assessed using a visual analog scale (VAS), with increased scores reflecting increased discomfort. Outcomes were compared at weeks 16 and 24. The analysis was based on VAS improvement and percentage of patients with ≥30%, ≥50%, and ≥70% improvement in musculoskeletal symptom scores.
Key Findings
This pooled analysis involved 185 PASE-positive patients with self-reported joint symptoms:
At Week 16, patients receiving deucravacitinib reported greater reductions in:
• Joint pain VAS: -15.2 (deucravacitinib) vs. -3.2 (placebo)
• Joint disease VAS: -17.4 (deucravacitinib) vs. -3.8 (placebo)
At Week 24, improvements from baseline were more significant with deucravacitinib compared to apremilast:
• Joint pain VAS: -22.8 (deucravacitinib) vs. -8.6 (apremilast)
• Joint disease VAS: -19.6 (deucravacitinib) vs. -8.8 (apremilast)
A higher percentage of deucravacitinib-treated patients achieved:
• ≥30% improvement in both week 16 and week 24 joint symptoms
• ≥50% and ≥70% improvements, which reflect greater response than observed with apremilast or placebo
This pooled analysis of the POETYK PSO trials shows that deucravacitinib not only benefits skin manifestations of psoriasis but also notably improves joint pain and musculoskeletal effect, rendering it an appealing treatment for overlapping-symptomatic patients with psoriatic arthritis. Early detection of joint symptoms using instruments such as PASE and effective control using drugs such as deucravacitinib may enhance long-term prognosis and quality of life in patients with psoriasis.
Reference:
Merola JF, Mease PJ, Armstrong AW, Strand V, Lehman T, Varga S, Choi JC, Becker B, Zhong Y, Colombo MJ, Thaçi D, Bili A, Gottlieb AB. Deucravacitinib in Patients with Plaque Psoriasis Who Screened Positive for Psoriatic Arthritis: Improvements in Joint Pain and the Impact of Musculoskeletal Symptoms. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2025 May 30. doi: 10.1007/s13555-025-01428-9. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40445270.
Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in. Read our Correction Policy here. Nothing here should be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not endorse any healthcare advice that contradicts a physician's guidance. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Advertisement Policy. For more details, read our Full Disclaimer here.
NOTE: Join us in combating medical misinformation. If you encounter a questionable health, medical, or medical education claim, email us at factcheck@medicaldialogues.in for evaluation.