Characteristics of patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with ustekinumab. Evidence from real-life clinical practice

Abstract

Introduction. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic immunoinflammatory disease characterised by involvement of the skin, nail plates, joints, spine and entheses in the inflammatory process. The IL-12/IL-23 inhibitor ustekinumab (UST) is increasingly being used in psoriasis (Ps) and PsA.Aim of the study. To analyze patients with PsA who were under inpatient treatment in the V.A. Nasonova Scientific Research Institute of Rheumatology and Radiology and who were prescribed UST during the period from 2018 to 2020.Material and methods. UST was administered to 17 patients with PsA (9 women and 8 men), mean age was 46.4 ± 11.3 years. Duration of PsA course was 11 ± 10.5 years. Patients underwent clinical, laboratory and instrumental examination, BSA and PASI, DAPSA and BASDAI indices were determined.Results. Patients predominantly had widespread Ps (BSA 18.2 ± 15.9%). Erosive arthritis was present in 94.1% of patients, and sacroiliitis was detected in 100% of patients. PsA activity was high (DAPSA = 44.9 ± 20.9, BASDAI = 6.2 ± 1.5).94% of patients had two or more comorbidities. Circulatory system diseases were observed in 82.4% of patients, liver diseases in 29.5%, gastrointestinal diseases in 47%, endocrine system diseases in 17.6%, viral hepatitis C in 23.5%, latent tuberculosis infection in 17.6%, and joint surgery was performed in 11.2% of patients. The clinical example presented in the article demonstrates good tolerability of UST in a patient with PsA with a number of comorbidities and the possibility to increase the dose of UST from 45 to 90 mg in case of ineffective therapy.Conclusions. The safety profile of UST is good, and it can be administered to patients with cardiovascular diseases, obesity, various infections, including latent tuberculosis, etc.

Keywords

• psoriasis
• psoriatic arthritis
• ustekinumab
• comorbidities
• cardiovascular diseases
• infections