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Objectives This study aims to assess current cardiovascular disease risk and prevalence of risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).Methods 2050 consecutive patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and 939 controls were included, with 1308 patients with RA, 356 patients with PsA and 386 patients with SpA. In a prospective cohort setting, questionnaires regarding previous cardiovascular events and risk factors were used to assess cardiovascular risk and prevalence in patients with IA by calculating ORs using logistic regression models.Results ‘Traditional’ cardiovascular (CV) risk factors were significantly elevated in patients with IA compared with controls. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) ORs were increased in patients with RA and PsA compared with controls, 1.61 (95% CI: 1.04 to 2.48) and 2.12 (95% CI: 1.23 to 3.66), respectively, and a trend towards increased odds was observed in patients with SpA (OR 1.43; 95% CI: 0.79 to 2.59). After adjusting for traditional risk factors, CV risk was not increased in patients with RA (OR; 0.95, 95% CI: 0.58 to 1.55), PsA (OR 1.19; 95% CI: 0.64 to 2.22) and SpA (OR; 0.91, 95% CI: 0.47 to 1.77).Conclusion CVD is currently still more prevalent in patients with IA compared with healthy controls and, more importantly, this elevated risk is highly influenced by an increased prevalence of ‘traditional’ CV risk factors. More attention to, as well as improvements in, identification and treatment of ‘traditional’ risk factors, need to be made for not only RA, but other IA conditions as well.

BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in soluble biomarkers that could be used on the group level for screening purposes in small proof of principle studies during early drug development. We investigated early changes in serum levels of several candidate biomarkers involved in cartilage and bone metabolism following the initiation of adalimumab as a prototypic active treatment in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared to placebo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four PsA patients were randomized to receive either adalimumab 40 mg s.c. every other week or placebo for 4 weeks, followed by an open label extension phase. Serum samples were obtained at baseline and after 4 and 12 weeks of treatment and analyzed for levels of CPII and PINP (synthesis of type II and type I procollagen), melanoma inhibitory activity (MIA) (chondrocyte anabolism), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, C2C and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) (type II collagen degradation), osteocalcin (OC) (bone formation), NTX-I and ICTP (both type I collagen degradation). RESULTS: After 4 weeks, there was a significant decrease in serum MMP-3 levels in adalimumab-treated patients (P

Abstract Background With expanding therapeutic possibilities for treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) it will be increasingly important to determine residual disease and define when to adjust treatment. The rationale behind treatment decisions in current daily clinical practice and the relationship with residual disease activity has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to assess current clinical practice on defining residual disease and subsequent treatment decisions made in PsA patients. Methods This cross-sectional study scored disease activity and treatment decisions prospectively in 142 consecutive PsA patients visiting the outpatient clinic for routine follow up. Disease activity parameters were scored by patient and the treating rheumatologist; the rheumatologist additionally registered his opinion on the presence of remaining disease activity despite current treatment (further mentioned as remaining disease) and subsequent treatment decisions. Results Two thirds (90/142) of patients had remaining disease activity according to the treating rheumatologist. Almost half (46%) of these patients had moderate to high disease activity according to the clinical Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (cDAPSA). Residual disease activity was determined by joint disease and pain rather than by active psoriasis. Demographic and clinical features were similar between groups with or without residual disease. Among patients with remaining disease activity, 74% were treated with either a conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARD) only or a first TNF-inhibiting biological agent, suggesting opportunities for treatment modification. However, treatment adjustment was initiated in only 21 (23%) of the 90 patients with residual disease. When comparing patients with remaining disease activity with and without treatment adjustment, we found no differences in objective disease activity measures, such as joint counts and patient scores. These data suggest that treatment is not adjusted in a large majority of patients with residual disease activity, although options for treatment changes are available. Conclusions Remaining disease activity is present in almost two thirds of patients with PsA when scored by the treating rheumatologist, but triggers treatment adjustment in only a minority. Further research to understand why disease activity does not lead to treatment adjustment is required to enable implementation of treatment strategies in clinical practice.

Abstract Introduction Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex, progressive, and often debilitating disease. Despite recent advances in treatment, numerous unmet needs in patient care persist. Rheumacensus is a multistakeholder, pan-European initiative designed to identify ways to elevate the standard of care (SoC) and treatment ambition for patients with PsA, using the perspectives of three key stakeholder groups: patients, healthcare professionals (HCPs) and payors. Methods Rheumacensus followed three phases: an insights-gathering workshop to identify current unmet needs in PsA and an area of focus for the project, a modified Delphi process to gain consensus on improvements within the agreed area of focus, and a Consensus Council (CC) meeting which used consensus statements as inspiration to generate ‘Calls to Action’ (CTA)—practical measures which, if implemented, could elevate the SoC for patients with PsA. Results The Rheumacensus CC consisted of four patient representatives, four HCPs and four payors. All 12 members completed all three Delphi e-consultations. The shared area of focus that informed the Delphi process was “patient empowerment through education on the disease and treatment options available, to enable patient involvement in management”. Four key themes emerged from the Delphi process: patient empowerment, patient knowledge and sources of education, patient–HCP consultations, and optimal initial treatment. Statements within these themes informed 12 overarching CTA, which focus on the need for a multistakeholder approach to implementing a paradigm shift towards patient-centred care and improved outcomes for patients with PsA. Conclusion Rheumacensus has identified shortcomings in the current SoC for patients with PsA and provides a foundation for change through practical CTA. It is hoped that all stakeholders will now take practical steps towards implementing these CTA across Europe to elevate the SoC for patients with PsA.

Abstract Background If TNF inhibitors are initiated in the early stages of psoriatic arthritis, this could potentially modulate disease and therefore allow us to discontinue the TNF inhibitor after achieving remission. Objective To investigate whether remission induced by tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitor (TNFi) and methotrexate in patients with early psoriatic arthritis is sustained after withdrawal of TNFi. Methods Open-label extension of a recently published double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled trial. Patients with psoriatic arthritis fulfilling the CASPAR criteria and with active disease at baseline (swollen and tender joint count ≥ 3) were randomized to either golimumab and methotrexate or matched placebo and methotrexate. Patients in Disease Activity Score (DAS) remission at week 22 continued in the open-label extension on methotrexate monotherapy. The primary end point was the percentage of patients in DAS-CRP remission (DAS