PSA Quiz: Joint Symptoms and New Treatments

Guselkumab (Tremfya). If approved, it would become the second IL-23 inhibitor in the U.S. market. For more information on guselkumab, see:  "Janssen Seeking Approval of New Treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis."

Psoriatic arthritis can appear in a variety of ways from nail disease to peripheral joint pain. But, there are a few hallmark signs that can send a rheumatologist or rheumatology nurse in the right direction. What signs did Linda Grinnell-Merrick, NP, discusses in her Q&A with Rheumatology Network?  (©Rob3000,AdobeStock)

Nail disease, enthesitis and joint symptoms. “Psoriatic arthritis can affect anyone. You really have to be on the look  out and be aware that it doesn’t always present as psoriasis and joint symptoms. Patients could just have nail disease and enthesitis. Providers hope that  patients are easy to diagnose with psoriasis and bad joints, but psoriatic arthritis is a puzzle that you have to put together. But, it can be a fun puzzle when you’re investigating further,” said Linda Grinnell-Merrick, NP. (©Rob3000,AdobeStock)

Methotrexate adherence has improved in recent years due to improved doctor-patient communication. True or False?

False. Methotrexate adherence is still suboptimal, at least among rheumatoid arthritis patients as reported in an observational study recently published in ACR Open Rheumatology. Methotrexate adherence, implementation, and persistence were 75 percent, 80 percent, and 83 percent at 24 weeks. For more inforation on this study, see "Methotrexate Adherence Still Suboptimal."

Patients with psoriatic arthritis have an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and depression with more than half having more than one comorbidity at a time. But the accumulation of comorbidities doesn't affect physical function. True or false?  (©MedicalIllustrations.com) 

False. “We believe that comorbidity may also exert some negative influence in the physical function of PsA (psoriatic arthritis) patients and our results support this view. In this case, the measurement of physical function would reflect not only the disease process but also other factors related to the patients’ general health,” wrote authors who were led by Miguel Gonzalez-Gay, M.D., Ph.D., of The Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla in Spain. The findngs appear in the April 29 issue of Arthritis Care and Research. For more information, see "The Burden of Comorbidities Weigh Differently on PsA and AS Patients."  (©MedicalIllustrations.com)

The presence of carotid atherosclerosis in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients is associated with an increased risk of having a cardiovascular event, researchers report. What technology was recently reported as having been on point for diagnosis? (©PhotoPlus, AdobeStock.com)

Ultrasound. “This study demonstrates that increased atherosclerotic plaque burden is associated with incident cardiovascular events in patients with psoriatic disease. This atherosclerotic burden, as estimated by carotid ultrasound, can improve prediction of cardiovascular events in psoriatic patients when combined with the Framingham Risk Score. Thus, it has a potential of improving cardiovascular risk estimation and stratification in this patient population,” according to Lihi Eder, M.D., writing in the June 5 issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology. For more information, see "Ultrasound on Point as Predictor of Cardiovascular Risk in Psoriatic Disease."