Endocrine Abstracts

Introduction: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disorder. Currently, various biologic agents are administered in PsA patients, improving significantly disease manifestations as well as quality of life. Biologic treatment may have an effect on lipid profile and the cardiovascular risk in the disease.

Aim: The aim was to follow-up a group of PsA patients and to evaluate comorbidities, lipid profile and cardiovascular risk and the effect of treatment with biologic agents on these parameters.

Methods: Disease activity was estimated using the DAPSA before and after treatment. Blood total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides were measured at baseline and after treatment at 3, 6 and 9 months. The 10-year cardiovascular risk was evaluated using the Heart Score Greece, at baseline and after 3, 6 and 9 months on treatment with biologic agents.

Results: The BMI of the patients was 29.01±0.65 before treatment and 28.63±0.6, 28.37±0.6 and 29.39±0.87 after treatment at 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively. Disease activity decreased very significantly after treatment with biologic agents in PsA patients, the DAPSA score decreasing from 27.56±0.65 (mean±SEM) before treatment to 12.56±0.40, 5.76±0.38 and 4.43±0.57 at 3, 6, and 9 months after treatment, respectively (P<0.001, Student’s t test). Total cholesterol decreased from 231.56±6.23 mg/dl before treatment to 202.91±3.96 mg/dl, 188.38±4.48 mg/dl and 171.29±6.89 mg/dl after treatment at 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively (P<0.001). HDL cholesterol increased from 50.62±2.07 mg/dl before treatment to 55.26±1.09 mg/dl, 56.03±0.98 mg/dl and 57.57±1.04 mg/dl after treatment, at 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively (P<0.001). LDL cholesterol decreased from 154.47±5.74 mg/dl before treatment to 139.61±4.90 mg/dl, 128.21±5.15 mg/dl and 92.71±5.96 mg/dl after treatment at 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively (P<0.001). Triglycerides were 152.03±9.26 mg/dl before treatment and decreased to 132.32±5.42 mg/dl, 121.05±4.52 mg/dl and 95.65±8.14 mg/dl after treatment at 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively (P<0.001). The Heart Score Greece decreased from 4.35±0.006% before treatment, to 3.71±0.005%, 3.5±0.004% and 2.8±0.005% after treatment, at 3, 6 and 9 months, respectively (P<0.001).

Conclusions: It appears that in PsA disease activity decreases very significantly after treatment with biologic agents, whereas the lipid profile and the heart disease risk is significantly improved.