The Undeniable Benefits of Apremilast in Psoriatic Arthritis: An Observational Study from South India

Abstract

Context: Ever since the introduction of apremilast in the Indian market in 2017, it was used in psoriatic arthritis with little information on the benefits of apremilast in this population, especially regarding the tolerability of the patients to tapered doses of apremilast. Aims: This study evaluates the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of apremilast in psoriatic arthritis. Settings and Design: A retrospective study was conducted on 120 patients aged ≥18 years who regularly visited one of the largest standalone rheumatology clinics between November 2018 and September 2019. Methods and Material: The proportion of patients who improved by 50% in their psoriasis area and severity index (PASI-50) score, as well as the reduction in tender joint count, swollen joint count, patient global health evaluation, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, were all evaluated as effectiveness objectives. Statistical Analysis Used: The non-parametric test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare between the baseline and follow-up measurements. Results: From a total of 120 patients, ninety-five patients showed a 65.09% reduction in the PASI score in the 16th week. A mean value for bath ankylosing spondylitis (BASDAI) of 4.36 at baseline was significantly reduced to 1.73 by the 16th week. Common adverse effects reported were gastritis (38.2%), diarrhea (32.4%), and fatigue (26.5%). Conclusions: Because of its tolerance and safety profile, apremilast may be regarded as a helpful medicine for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis, either alone or in combination with other medications, according to the findings of the study.