The coexistence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and atopic dermatitis (AD) suggests the need for careful consideration in treatment selection, according to findings published in the Journal of Personalized Medicine on April 17.
In a retrospective analysis conducted by Georgiana Strugariu and colleagues from “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Romania, 64 PsA patients receiving biologics for active disease were examined over a span of up to 10 years in an outpatient rheumatology department.
The study revealed that approximately one-third of these patients had atopic diseases, with AD demonstrating a higher prevalence compared to atopic rhinitis and allergic asthma (10 cases of AD versus six and three cases, respectively; 52.6% versus 31.6% and 15.8%, respectively).
Among those with AD, researchers identified three distinct morphological patterns: chronic prurigo, chronic lichen simplex, and eczemas (three, one, and six cases, respectively). Notably, all PsA patients with concurrent AD experienced late-onset skin atopy (in adult life) and exhibited a specific demographic profile, including a younger age, urban residence, equal gender distribution, and the necessity to switch to a higher number of biologics for disease control.
The authors emphasized the importance of screening psoriasis and PsA patients for atopy and AD to tailor treatment strategies more effectively, potentially leading to improved disease control and prolonged therapeutic response.
