Spondyloarthritis

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) recently announced a number of new programs and a five-year strategic mission for the organization with initiatives that are designed to increase research and uncover new treatments for all forms of psoriasis and psoriatic disease.

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) announced in a press release that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will not cut reimbursement for phototherapy in 2015.

Many studies that inform current international guidelines for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are of poor quality and lack applicability in clinical practice.

The US Food and Drug Administration recently announced its approval of a new medication for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Study results show that treatment with etanercept is effective and well tolerated in adolescent patients with psoriatic arthritis and other rheumatic conditions.

An endocrinologist from the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland discusses the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes, outlining the reasons why clinicians should target inflammation when treating diabetics.

Study results show that obese patients with psoriatic arthritis who were treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha blockers who also lost at least 5 percent of their bodyweight from baseline were much more likely to achieve minimal disease activity.

Biologic agent golimumab effective over 5-year span in treating disease symptoms and improving quality of life.

For patients enduring constant pain in their ankles caused by arthritis, there could be relief on the horizon as medical science works to develop better ankle replacement procedures.

Patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or both conditions felt their quality of life decreased if they experienced condition symptoms in more parts of their body.

Cardiovascular risk related to severity of inflammation, but not associated with disease duration

Patients with psoriatic arthritis may be at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, so physicians must carefully weigh the pros and cons of treatment with corticosteroids and other proatherogenic drugs.

Because these medications are immunosuppressants, careful monitoring is required in patients to guard against comorbid infection and other side effects.

Because they can share similar symptoms, gout and psoriatic arthritis are commonly misdiagnosed.

For people diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis that show only mild symptoms of joint pain and swelling, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are usually the first treatment option to consider.

Underwater inferential current therapy significantly improves overall hand function in patients whose psoriatic arthritis affects their hands, according to a study published in the April issue of International Journal of Physiotherapy and Research.

Psoriatic arthritis patients' work productivity is affected by the disease, according to research published in Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology.

Psoriatic arthritis is often associated with sleep disturbances, depression, and other comorbidities that can adversely affect a patient's ability to perform activities of daily living.

For psoriatic arthritis patients, foot pain and inflammation are tied to foot structure, according to research published in the April 2014 issue of Rheumatology.

For psoriatic arthritis patients, there is a connection between their condition and cardiovascular risk, according to a cross-sectional study published in the 9th volume of Mædica

The National Psoriasis Foundation and other groups are working to raise awareness of the condition among physicians as part of an effort to support earlier diagnosis and treatment.

Psoriatic arthritis drug secukinumab showed sustained efficacy in phase 3 data revealed at the American Academy of Dermatology meeting.

Otezla, an oral therapy for treatment of active psoriatic arthritis, has been approved by the FDA.

Study results show that treatment with apremilast improves symptoms and physical function in patients with psoriatic arthritis, regardless of prior biologic experience or current DMARD use.

Prescribing systematic corticosteroids is generally not advised as treatment for psoriasis, however they were the second most prescribed medication from 1989-2010 for patients with this condition.

New genetic treatment options are being explored using mice models of psoriasis in two studies, including inhibiting genes and proteins.

TNF-alpha inhibitors work as well in juveniles with SpA as in adults, giving good long-term results, according to a small observational study conducted in 3 countries.

Combination therapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis has a lower discontinuation rate than that of patients on monotherapy, but comes with a higher price tag.

Despite the pervasiveness of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, undertreatment and nontreatment of even the most severe forms of those systemic rheumatic diseases are widespread in the United States.

While substantial evidence already shows several genetic and environmental elements factor into immune-mediated rheumatic disease susceptibility, a recent review of hospital admissions data suggests vitamin D deficiency can single-handedly elevate a patient's risk of developing certain chronic conditions within that group of disorders.