Easily administered screening tool may help identify axial psoriatic arthritis
A study found more than half of Psoriatic arthritis patients have a diagnostic delay of more than two years. This delay increases the risk of irreversible joint damage.
In a recent investigation, researchers said, “Dermatologist-centred screening (DCS) questionnaire reduces delay in diagnosis and the time to appropriate therapy.” This Italian study published in Rheumatology identified DCS as a rapid and easy-to-administer tool that could help in identifying psoriatic patients having early axial psoriatic arthritis.
Dermatologists administered DCS questionnaires to patients aged 18+ with psoriasis diagnosed by a dermatologist to identify those eligible for rheumatological evaluation. They collected data (clinical, laboratory, imaging and genetic) from all referred patients.
Key findings from the study are:
- Out of 365 patients screened, 265 patients met the inclusion criteria.
- One hundred twenty-four patients were eligible for rheumatological referral.
- Diagnosis of axPsA, with/without peripheral PsA (pPsA), was made in 36 patients.
- Twenty-one patients had pPsA without axial involvement.
- One hundred seventy-four patients had Back pain at screening.
- A total of 158 patients, constituting 60%, reported back pain duration longer than three months, and 140, constituting 53%, reported back pain onset before 45 years of age.
- All axPsA patients had active inflammatory and/or structural post-inflammatory changes in the sacroiliac joints and/or spine.
Psoriatic arthritis patients had a longer duration of back pain and higher CRP levels than patients with Pso without PsA.
Researchers determined a DCS tool valuable in identifying and assessing patients with axPsA in a real-life cohort of psoriasis patients in a dermatology clinic. It helped identify a significant number of patients with undiagnosed pPsA.
AbbVie funded the study for medical writing.
Reference:
Michele Maria Luchetti Gentiloni et al. The ATTRACT study: screening for the early identification of axial psoriatic arthritis in a cohort of Italian psoriatic patients, Rheumatology, 2023; kead566, https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/kead566
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.