Patients With PsA Show Improvements After Biologic Therapy According to Ultrasound Doppler Enthesitis

Power Doppler (PD) enthesitis in active spondyloarthritis (SpA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) showed sensitivity to change after biologic therapy.

Researchers explored the sensitivity to change in PD enthesitis in patients with active SpA and PsA. Active disease was defined as patients starting or switching to biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs). The longitudinal study performed the Madrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index (MASEI) at baseline, 3-month, and-6 month visits. The MASEI and Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) PD enthesitis definitions were checked.

MASEI and OMERACT showed statistically significant (P<.05) improvement at 3- and 6-month follow-up and showed sensitivity to change. Decreases in MASEI and OMERACT PD enthesitis counts were associated with improvement in clinical activity.

“PD enthesitis significantly improved at 3- and 6-month follow-up in patients undergoing bDMARD therapy,” concluded the study authors. “Both MASEI and OMERACT PD US enthesitis reflect response to treatment,” they added.

Reference
Molina Collada J, Macía-Villa C, Plasencia-Rodríguez C, Álvaro-Gracia JM, de Miguel E. Ultrasound Doppler enthesitis shows sensitivity to change after biological therapy in spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis patients. Scand J Rheumatol. Published online June 21, 2021. doi:10.1080/03009742.2021.1921348