Abstract

Background:Dactylitis is a common feature of PsA, occurring in 16 to 49% of PsA patients,mostly in early disease.Objectives:To assess the effectiveness of steroid injection (local treatment, LT) into the digital flexor tendon sheath for the treatment of active dactylitis in PsA patients as compared to systemic treatment (ST) alone.Methods:73 hand dactylitis were assessed in a prospective observational study by the Leeds Dactylitis Index basic (LDI-b) score and evaluated for pain (VAS pain),functional impairment (VAS-FI).In accordance with EULAR and GRAPPA recommendations, steroidinjectionwas proposed to all patients. Patients who refused LT were treated with oral NSAIDs. The patients of the two groups continued baseline therapy with csDMARDs or corticosteroids. The clinical outcomes were measured at baseline, 1 month (T1) and 3 months (T3) by assessors blinded to this study.Results:The reduction of VAS-pain, VAS-FI and LDI-b values was statistically significant higher in the LT group as compared to the ST group, both at T1 (p <0.001, p<0.001 and p=0.008, respectively) and at T3 (p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) (see Table 1). A clinically meaningful treatment response was observed at T1 in 33 (87%) digits in LT group and in 6 (17%) digits in ST group (p < 0.001). At T3, clinical response improved significantly in both the groups, with significant difference (see Table 2). In both the groups, no local and systemic adverse events were observed during the follow up period.Table 1.Variation of clinical parameters during follow up.T0baselineT11 monthT33 monthsT0 vs T195% CIT0 vs T395% CIVAS - PAINLT6.89±1.931.97±1.621.34±1.484.92(4.17; 5.67)5.55(4.76; 6.32)ST6.03±2.435.49±2.535.0±2.650.54(-0.23;1.32)1.03(-0.02; 2.07)Mean differences (95% CI)0.87(-1.89; 0.16)3.51(2.53; 4.49)3.66(2.67; 4.65)VAS - FILT7.87±1.532.76±1.871.68±1.545.11(4.49; 5.72)6.18(5.52; 6.84)ST6.89±1.926.14±2.255.74±2.630.74(0.23; 1.26)1.14(0.32; 1.97)Mean differences (95%CI)0.98(-1,79; 0,17)3.38(2.42; 4.34)4.05(3.06; 5.05)Finger circumference (cm)LT7.17±0.576.61±0.596.55±0.540.56(0.46; 0.65)0.62(0.52; 0.73)ST7.05±0.806.90±0.896.88±0.910.15(0.06; 0.25)0.17(0.07; 0.27)Mean differences (95%CI)0.12(-0.44; 0.21)0.29(-0.07–0.69)0.33(-0.02 -0.68)LDI-bLT12.31±0.039.91±7.151.25±4.358.40(5.73;11.06)11.05(8.22; 13.89)ST14.97±11.079.88±10.9810.04±11.095.10(1.63; 8.55)4.93(1.54; 8.32)Mean differences (95%CI)2.67(-1.82; 7.16)5.97(1.58; 10.35)8.79(4.74;12.83)VAS, visual analogue scale; VAS-FI, Visual analogue scale for functional impairment; LDI-b, Leed’s dactylitic index basic; LT, local treatment group; ST, systemic treatment group.Table 2.Percentage of Significant response and Remission of dactylitis.T1 1 monthT3 3 monthsSignificant response, n (%)LT33 (86.8%)36 (94.7%)ST6 (17.1%)11 (31.4%)p value< 0.001< 0.001Remissionn (%)LT1 (2.8%)7 (18.4%)ST0 (0%)0 (0%)p valuens0.012Values are presented as number of dactylitic fingers achieving response/remission. p values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.Conclusion:For the first time, we show the effectiveness of steroid injection into the digitalflexor tendon sheathin improving clinical aspects and symptoms of hand psoriatic dactylitis.

Full Text
Paper version not known

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.