Association between Skin and Joint Involvement in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis Treated with Adalimumab: Analysis of Data from a German Non-Interventional Study

Abstract

Background: The association between skin and joint manifestations in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) requires further characterization. Objective: We evaluated the association between severity of skin disease and joint involvement and the effectiveness and safety of adalimumab in PsA patients by baseline psoriasis severity. Methods: Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used to evaluate data from 1,918 PsA patients starting adalimumab treatment. Subgroup analyses were conducted on patients empirically grouped by baseline target lesion score as a marker of psoriasis severity. Results: Psoriasis severity was not associated with joint manifestations at baseline or after 12 months of treatment. All subgroups showed improvements in skin and joints during therapy, and adalimumab was safe and well tolerated in all subgroups. Conclusion: The severity of skin manifestations does not correlate with the severity of joint disease in PsA patients; even patients with mild skin disease may have extensive musculoskeletal involvement.