Joint Damage in PsA Predicted by Enthesitis
In patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the severity of enthesitis could help to predict severe disease and joint damage, according to the results of a recent study.
The researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 223 patients with PsA, using the Madrid Sonography Enthesitis Index (MASEI) scoring system to quantify the extent of sonographic entheseal abnormalities, and the modified Steinbrocker score (mSS), Modified New York Criteria for sacroiliitis, and the modified Stroke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spine Score (mSASSS) to analyze damage in the peripheral joints and spine.
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Overall, the researchers observed an association between higher MASEI scores and peripheral joint damage, as well as an association between higher MASEI scores and axial damage as measured by mSASSS and sacroiliitis.
“The results of the study suggest that the severity of sonographic enthesitis is a potential marker of radiographic peripheral and axial joint damage in PsA,” the researchers concluded.
“These findings raise the question of whether enthesitis has a role in the pathogenesis of articular damage in PsA. Further longitudinal studies in early PsA patients are required in order to establish the precise cause and effect relationships between enthesitis, synovitis, and joint damage.”
—Michael Potts
Reference:
Polachek A, Cook R, Chandran V, et al. The association between sonographic enthesitis and radiographic damage in psoriatic arthritis [published online August 15, 2017]. Arthritis Res Ther. doi. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13075-017-1399-5