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TNF-α blockers were safe and significantly improved
disease activity in patients with psoriatic arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is chronic inflammatory arthritis, linked to skin and/or nail psoriasis. There is lack of data evaluating the efficacy and safety of TNF-α blockers in the older patients with PsA. Costa L and colleagues carried out the study with an aim to investigate the efficacy of TNF-α blockers by attaining minimal disease activity (MDA), drug discontinuation rate, and safety in older patients with PsA.
Four Italian centers were chosen to carry out this
multicenter observational study. Disease activity and safety assessment were
done at baseline (T0), 6 months (T6) and 12 months (T12). The study included
a total of 145 PsA patients. Out of these 145, 68 patients were on etanercept, 60 on adalimumab, 11 on golimumab and 6 on infliximab. A statistically significant improvement was noted in all the variables concerning PsA activity at 6 and 12 months as compared to baseline. 31 (22.6%) and 71 (51.8%) patients attained MDA after 6 and 12 months of therapy. The drug discontinuation rate was found to be 5.5% with a mean of 6.8 months. Mild infections were reported in nine patients (6.2%) and were treated with antimicrobial specific oral regimen without therapy interruption.
Overall
results of the study showed that TNF-α blockers are useful for attaining a low
disease status and are also safe in older patients with PsA. Hence, age should
not be recognized as a constraint to their use.
Clin Rheumatol. 2017 Jun 7.
Elderly psoriatic arthritis patients on TNF-α blockers: results of an Italian multicenter study on minimal disease activity and drug discontinuation rate.
Costa L et al.
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