Early psoriatic arthritis: short symptom duration, male gender and preserved physical functioning at presentation predict favourable outcome at 5-year follow-up. Results from the Swedish Early Psoriatic Arthritis Register (SwePsA).

OBJECTIVE: The Swedish Early Psoriatic Arthritis Register describes the course of early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a real life clinical setting in Sweden. The aim of this study was to obtain information on predictors of clinical outcomes over a 5-year period with special focus on effects of gender, joint patterns, diagnostic delay and initial disease activity. METHODS: In six centres, patients with signs suggestive of PsA were included in the Swedish Early Psoriatic Arthritis Register within 2 years of symptom onset. CASPAR (classification for psoriatic arthritis) criteria were fulfilled by 197 patients who had passed the 5-year follow-up. Disease activity was measured by the Disease Activity Score including 28 joints (DAS28) and the Disease Activity Index for Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA). Remission and minimal disease activity (MDA) were used as outcome measures. RESULTS: Mean age at inclusion was 46 years, younger in male than female patients (43 vs 48 years). Mean DAS28 was 3.7 and 3.0 at inclusion and 2.8 and 2.1 at follow-up for women and men, respectively-significantly higher in women at both visits. Likewise, DAPSA scores were significantly higher in women. The degree of improvement (change in DAS28 and DAPSA) was similar. Men achieved MDA or remission (50% vs 33%, 25% vs 13%, respectively) more often, and women had significantly more polyarthritis at inclusion (49% vs 27%) and after 5 years (25% vs 15%). Axial or mono/oligoarticular disease was predominant in men. Independent predictors of MDA at the 5-year follow-up were: shorter symptom duration; greater general well-being (global visual analogue scale); and low Health Assessment Questionnaire at inclusion. CONCLUSIONS: In early PsA, short delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis, preserved function, and male gender are the most important predictors of favourable clinical outcome at the 5-year follow-up. Early recognition of PsA and active treatment may be important, particularly in women with polyarticular disease.

The Swedish early psoriatic arthritis register-- 2-year followup: a comparison with early rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with symptoms and signs compatible with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with or without psoriasis, have been documented in the Swedish Early Psoriatic Arthritis (SwePsA) register. Our aim was to find markers for disease progression and to evaluate treatments for PsA using these data. METHODS: Patients referred to rheumatology outpatient clinics within 2 years of onset were assessed on inclusion and at followup 2 years later. Data collection was performed according to the program for SwePsA, and classification was as described by Moll and Wright and the ClASsification Criteria for Psoriatic ARthritis (CASPAR). Remission was recorded if the patient had no tender or swollen joints and if erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were within the reference range. Patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) recruited from the Swedish Early Rheumatoid Arthritis Register (Ramona) provided comparison data. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five patients with PsA according to CASPAR were assessed; 44% were classified as having mono/oligoarthritis and 47% as polyarthritis. Two patients (1%) were in remission initially, and 23 (17%) at followup. Patients with polyarticular disease had the highest inflammatory activity, measured by swollen and tender joint counts, ESR, Health Assessment Questionnaire, and self-assessment by visual analog scale of pain and global disease activity. Dactylitis was associated with radiological findings. Compared with RA patients, they had significantly lower CRP, ESR, and number of swollen joints (p = 0.0003, p = 0.0026, p = 0.0380, respectively) at inclusion, but equal numbers of tender joints and self-assessment of pain and disease activity. CONCLUSION: About half the patients had polyarthritis and the other half had mono/oligoarthritis at followup after 2 years. Patients with polyarthritis had the highest inflammatory activity. Apart from ESR, CRP, and swollen joint count, there were no significant differences in activity between RA and polyarticular PsA.