Characteristics of Clinical Profiles in Psoriatic Arthritis Patients Initiating Ustekinumab by a Dermatologist or Rheumatologist

Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA), an inflammatory disease, is primarily associated with Psoriasis (PsO). This study assesses the collaboration between rheumatologists and dermatologists in PsA diagnosis and disease management. It also describes the clinical profiles of patients with PsA initiating on ustekinumab treatment.

This is a multicenter, non-interventional, real-world study conducted between 23 June 2017 and 10 April 2020 across 62 sites in France that enrolled patients aged ≥18 years with a confirmed diagnosis of PsA either by a rheumatologist or a dermatologist and who started ustekinumab therapy. The health status and disease activity of the patients were evaluated at baseline, Week 16, and Week 28. The safety of ustekinumab was determined based on adverse events occurring within 90 days following the last ustekinumab administration.

The efficacy set included a total of 203 patients, of whom 133 were managed by rheumatologists and 70 by dermatologists. Painful and swollen joints, dactylitis, and enthesitis were more commonly assessed in patients managed by rheumatologists, while skin lesions and the percentage of body surface area affected by PsO were more frequently assessed among patients managed by dermatologists. Rheumatologist–dermatologist collaboration was documented in 40 patients at Week 16 and 36 patients at Week 28 during follow-up.

This study highlights the influence of specialty on clinical decision-making in PsA and reinforces the importance of multidisciplinary care in its management.

Collaboration between rheumatologists and dermatologists for the harmonization of routine practices related to PsA diagnosis and management could be further enhanced.