Prevention of Metacarpophalangeal Joints Structure Damage in Patients With Psoriatic Arthritis Using Secukinumab
Phase: PHASE4
Conditions: Psoriatic Arthritis
Sponsor: Chinese University of Hong Kong

1 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
Study title:  
Prevention of metacarpophalangeal joints structure damage in 
patients with psoriatic arthritis using secukinumab 
 
 
NCT03623867 
 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
 
 

2 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
PI: Lai-Shan Tam1 
Co-I: Ling Qin2, James Griffith3, Lin Shi1, Wing-Yin Vivian Hung2, Man-Yee Lee4 
1. Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong;  
2. Department of Orthopedics & Traumatology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong;  
3. Department of Imaging & Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong; 
4. Department of Medicine & Geriatrics, Tai Po Hospital. Hong Kong. 
 
Background: 
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory joint disease associated with psoriasis. PsA is 
associated with distinctive clinical features including changes in skin and nails, peripheral arthritis, axial 
disease, dactylitis and enthesitis. Synovial inflammation in peripheral joints is the most prevalent feature 
of the disease ranging in severity from mild joint inflammation to disabling peripheral arthritis (1). Within 
2 years of diagnosis, radiological erosions were developed in 47% of the patients (2). Without proper 
monitoring and treatment, it will lead to significant structure damage and loss of physical function, and 
even arthritis mutilans, which is the most severe destructive form of PsA (3). Prevention of structural 
damage is one of the primary goals of treating PsA patients to maximise health-related quality of life (4). 
 
Detection of bone erosions in PsA patients is usually achieved by conventional radiographs although 
the sensitivity is low (5). High-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) is a novel technique for 
detailed bone microstructure analysis with high reproducibility in assessing bony erosions (6). With its 
high spatial resolution of 130 μm, HR-pQCT exhibited a higher sensitivity in detecting erosion compared 
with radiograph and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (7). Recently, Finzel et al. described an indirect 
method to assess volume based on measurements of the width and depth of the erosions using HR-
pQCT (8). Quantitative measurement of erosion volume can also be achieved (6). Using this method, 
erosion repair under biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) treatment has been 
demonstrated in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (8, 9). Bone apposition at the margin of erosions 
(osteosclerosis) with the formation of a new cortical lining was associated with a decrease in erosion 
depth or width, which may indicate either periosteal or endosteal repair processes (8, 9). Valid 
measurement of erosion volume using HR-pQCT will facilitate the testing of treatments that may help 
to heal erosion. Decrease in erosion volume and the presence of osteosclerosis on HR-pQCT could be 
promising markers for erosion healing. 
 
Detection of dactylitis is mainly by clinical assessment currently. With the advancement of ultrasound 
(US) imaging, it is lately discovered that the dactylitis was related with inflammation of pulley system 
from a pilot study (data not published). However, there are limited study on the change in inflammation 
of pulley system by US. 
 

3 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
Interleukin 17 (IL-17) is a proinflammatory cytokine which produced by type 17 helper T cells (Th17). It 
is now considered to be a key cytokine in the pathogenesis of a number of autoimmune disorders in 
humans including PsA (10). IL-17 was also reported to be associated with the presence of joint erosion 
(11). Recently, secukinumab, an anti–interleukin-17A monoclonal antibody, was reported to be effective 
in reducing disease activity and decreased the rate of radiographic joint damage compared with placebo 
(12). However, whether healing of erosion could occur in PsA has never been evaluated. The US-
detected longitudinal changes of dactylitis was not reported too. 
 
On the other hand, osteophytes formation at the entheseal regions of the joints in PsA is distinctive 
feature compared with RA (13). The formation of osteophytes is tightly regulated by anabolic pathways, 
which resembles the pathogenesis of new bone formation in ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Tumor 
necrosis factor (TNF) inhibition was unable to halt the structural progression in AS patients (14-16), it 
also lacked efficacy in stopping the progression of osteophytes in PsA patients (17). Inhibition of IL-17 
by secukinumab was effective in the treatment of both AS (18) and PsA (12). Secukinumab also 
decreased the rate of radiographic joint damage regarding to erosion and joint space narrowing (12). 
However, it is unknown if it has any effect in the progression of osteophytes. In an animal model, 
although over-expression of IL-17 alone failed to induce entheseal and periosteal bone formation, 
inhibition of IL-17 leaded to significant reduction of such bone formation in an IL-23 overexpression 
model (19). Moreover, IL-17A accelerates bone formation by stimulating the proliferation and 
osteoblastic differentiation of mesenchymal progenitor cells after injury (20). It is worth exploring if 
secukinumab could prevent the progression of osteophytes in PsA patients. 
 
Aims and hypotheses to be tested: 
Hypothesis 
IL-17 inhibition by secukinumab could lead to healing of existing erosion, and prevent progression of 
osteophytes, and resolution of dactylitis in PsA patients. 
 
Aims 
The aim of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study is to evaluate the protective effects 
of secukinumab on the healing of joint erosion and prevention of progression of osteophytes in PsA 
patients using HR-pQCT and US. 
 
Objectives 
Primary outcome 
Difference in changes in the volume of erosions on metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) 2-4 measured 
by HR-pQCT at 24 and 48 weeks between secukinumab and placebo group. 
 
Secondary outcomes 

4 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
1) The percentage of erosions with healing determined using HR-pQCT on MCP 2-4 at 24 and 48 
weeks including 1). A decrease in erosion volume of ≥0.4 mm3 from baseline, and 2). The 
presence of grade 2 osteosclerosis at the margin of erosion. 
2) Changes in volume and width of erosion using HR-pQCT at 24 and 48 weeks; 
3) Changes in the height of osteophytes using HR-pQCT at 24 and 48 weeks; 
4) Marginal osteosclerosis (semi-quantitative and quantitative) using HR-pQCT at 24 and 48 
weeks; 
5) Changes in joint space volume using HR-pQCT at 24 and 48 weeks 
Exploratory outcomes 
1) Changes in US-parameters in dactylitis, enthesitis and synovitis at 24 and 48 weeks 
2) Changes in van der Heijde-Sharp score on radiograph at 24 and 48 weeks. 
3) Changes in patients-reported-outcomes (SF-36, Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease (PsAID)) 
and functional disability (HAQ) at 24 and 48 weeks 
4) Changes in biomarkers (Pro-C2, C-Col10, COMP, MCP-1, Dkk1 and sclerostin) at 24 and 48 
weeks  
 
Plan of Investigation: 
Subjects 120 biologic DMARDs naïve PsA patients attending the outpatient clinic of the Prince of Wales 
Hospital (PWH), North District Hospital (NDH),Tai Po Hospital (TPH), Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) 
and Tseung Kwan O Hospital (TKOH) who fulfilled the Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis 
(CASPAR), will be recruited. The main inclusion criteria are: 1) ≥18 years old; 2) without severe 
deformity in MCP joints (MCPJ) which would influence the longitudinal assessment of HR-pQCT; 3) with 
active disease, which is defined as three or more tender joints and three or more swollen joints, despite 
previous treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. 
These 120 patients will be screened for the presence of erosion at the head of MCPJ 2-4 using HR-
pQCT. The first 40 patients with erosion will be randomised in a 1:1 ratio to secukinumab (n=20) or 
placebo (n=20) group. Based on a study using high-resolution CT in 41 PsA patients, 41% of the 
patients had at least one erosion, and 90% of the erosions were in MCPs (5). The resolution of the high-
resolution CT is 0.4 mm, which is almost 5 folds lower than HR-pQCT (82 μm). Therefore, we estimated 
that over 1/3 of the PsA patients will have at least one erosion in MCPs. Thus, screening 120 patients 
using HR-pQCT should be adequate to recruit 40 patients with erosions on MCPJ 2-4.  
 
All study procedures will be performed in PWH after recruitment from non-PWH site. 
 
Randomisation will be performed using a computer-generated randomisation list provided by the 
hospital pharmacist, using a permuted blocks design with block sizes of 4 and 6. Allocation concealment 
will be ensured by the use of sequentially numbered, opaque, sealed envelopes. Treatment will be 
masked to patients and investigators. 

5 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
 
Exclusion criteria are: 1) limited in ability to perform usual self-care, vocational, and avocational 
activities; 2) pregnancy; 3) previous therapy with biologic; 4) the presence of active inflammatory 
diseases other than PsA; 5) active infection in 2 weeks before randomization or a history of ongoing, 
chronic, or recurrent infections including tuberculosis; 6) history of hepatitis B & C; 7) history of 
malignant disease within the past 5 years (excluding basal cell carcinoma or actinic keratosis, in-situ 
cervical cancer, or non-invasive malignant colon polyps); 8) contraindications to secukinumab. The 
concomitant use of oral glucocorticoids (at a dose of ≤10 mg per day of prednisone or its equivalent) 
and methotrexate (at a dose of ≤25 mg per week) are permitted, provided that the dose will be stable.  
 
The study will be approved by the Ethics Committee of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Written 
informed consent will be obtained from all participants according to the Declaration of Helsinki and 
ICH-GCP guidelines. 
 
Methods This is a 52-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. PsA patients will be 
randomised to either secukinumab or placebo group. All patients will be evaluated and treated according 
to the following protocol. 
 
Study design  
Treatment 
The patients will be randomly assigned to the secukinumab group or placebo group. Patients will be 
followed-up at weeks 2, 4 and then every 12 weeks until week 52. Patients will receive subcutaneous 
placebo or secukinumab 150 mg once a week from baseline for 4 weeks, and then once every 4 weeks 
from week 4 onwards. The study flow is shown in Figure 1. Changes in the baseline treatment, e.g. the 
dosage of conventional synthetic DMARDs (csDMARDs) including methotrexate, leflunomide, 
hydroxychloroquine, or sulfasalazine or the addition of a new csDMARD (individually or in combination), 
as well as changes in the dosage or the addition of steroids or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs were 
allowed after week 12 if the patient cannot achieve minimal disease activity (MDA) (Table 1) (see 
appendix 1 for the treatment protocol). For patients who fulfil the criteria for biologic DMARDs 
(bDMARDs) (Appendix 2) and are willing to be started on bDMARDs, the code will be broken, and they 
can either pay out of pocket or can apply for the Samaritan Fund for financial assistance, provided they 
must 
pass 
a 
household-based 
financial 
assessment 
(http://www.ha.org.hk/visitor/ha_visitor_index.asp?Content_ID=10048&Lang=ENG&Dimension=100). 
Patients who have started bDMARDs apart from secukinumab will be excluded from the efficacy 
assessment. Adverse effects will be recorded. 
Evaluation of disease activity and severity 

6 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
At baseline and at each visit, we will quantify the extent of disease by evaluation of the multiple clinical 
domains of PsA. The following domains will be assessed: pain, physicians’ and patients’ global 
assessments, number of tender and swollen joints (using the 68 tender/66 swollen joint count), number 
of joints irreversibly damaged (baseline and week 52 visit only); enthesitis ((Maastricht Ankylosing 
Spondylitis Enthesitis Score (MASES), The Leeds Enthesitis Index (LEI) and the Spondyloarthritis 
Research Consortium of Canada Enthesitis Index (SPARCC Enthesitis Index). ); number of digits with 
dactylitis; levels of acute phase reactant including erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive 
protein (CRP) levels, Bath ankylosing spondylitis disease activity index (BASDAI), Bath Ankylosing 
Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) and the modified health assessment questionnaire (M-HAQ. For 
the skin domain, Psoriasis Area (BSA) and Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index (PASI) will be assessed 
in baseline and each visit. Quality of life will be assessed at baseline, week 24 and 48 which include 
HRQoL using the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey and the Psoriatic Arthritis Impact of Disease 
(PsAID) [21]. MDA will be used for assessment of treatment efficacy endpoint. A qualified dermatologist 
will be responsible for performing assessment of skin involvement (BSA, PASI) of the patients.  
Composite disease activity will be assessed at baseline and at each visit according to the PASDAS 
(Table 2) (21). The PASDAS is calculated using the following variables: patient global VAS (0-100), 
physician global VAS (0-100), 66 swollen joint count, 68 tender joint count, CRP level (mg/ litre), Leeds 
enthesitis count (0-6), tender dactylitis count (0-20), and the physical component summary (PCS) scale 
of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) health survey. The PASDAS is then calculated by the formula [22]: 
PASDAS = (0.18 × √ physician global VAS) 
+ (0.159 × √ patient global VAS) 
− 0.253 × √ SF-36 – PCS) + (0.101 
× LN [swollen joint count + 1]) 
+ 0.048 × LN [tender joint count + 1]) 
+ (0.23 × LN [Leeds Enthesitis Count + 1]) 
+ (0.377 × LN [dactylitis count + 1]) 
+ (0.102 × LN [CRP + 1] + 2 × 1.5, where LN is the natural logarithm.  
The PASDAS was developed by GRAPPA based on real patient data from the GRAppa Composite 
Exercise (GRACE) project and it has been utilised by recent studies to monitor treatment response of 
biologic DMARDs including secukinumab and golimumab [23, 24].  
At baseline, 24 and 48 weeks, Muscle-skeletal US will be examined for enthesitis, dactylitis and 
synovitis assessment; while X-rays of the hands, wrists, feet, hip and (X-ray pelvis for those with axial 
involvement) will be performed for the evaluation of erosion. 
 
 
Laboratory assessments and inflammatory markers  
Laboratory assessments at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks the end of study include fasting blood glucose, 
fasting lipid profile (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density 

7 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], triglycerides), fibrinogen, and uric acid. Total cholesterol is measured 
by an autoanalyzer enzymatic method. HDL-C is determined enzymatically with polyethylene glycol–
modified enzymes. LDL-C is calculated by the Friedewald formula. If the triglyceride levels exceed 
4.0mmoles/liter, the LDL levels are measured directly by ultracentrifugal single spin analysis. A total of 
16 ml research blood will be collected for the following research use. 
It has been suggested that chronic skin inflammation could lead to bone loss by IL-17-mediated 
inhibition of the WNT signalling pathway [25]. In order to investigate the effects of Secukinumab on the 
proposed pathway, the levels of WNT-inhibitors including Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) and sclerostin will be 
measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA).  
As joint space narrowing will be assessed (see below), relevant markers of cartilage formation, 
metabolism and turnover (Pro-C2, C-Col10, COMP and MCP-1) will be measured using ELISA 
according to the manufacturer’s instructions [26, 27].  
 
Safety Data Collection and Reporting  
All possible side effect of the biologic and synthetic DMARDs used the study will be explained to the 
participants by the research nurse and the treating physician. To monitor the possible side effect, 
complete blood count, liver function tests and renal function tests will be performed every visit. Chest 
X-rays will be obtained at baseline and at the end of the study. The treating physician records all non-
serious and serious adverse events, all reports of drug exposure during pregnancy, and all reports of 
misuse and abuse of the Novartis drug, other medication errors and uses outside of what is foreseen 
in the protocol, if necessary, make treatment adjustments in accordance with the protocol. Serious 
adverse events are defined as any adverse reaction resulting in any of the following outcomes: a life-
threatening condition or death, a significant or permanent disability, a medically significant event, 
hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, a congenital abnormality, or a birth defect. All adverse 
events from this trial will be reported to local IRB and Health Authority by the investigator according per 
requirement as holder of certificate of clinical trial. Any SAEs, reports of drug exposure during 
pregnancy and reports of Study Drug misuse or abuse, including initial and follow up reports, arising 
from the Study in subjects exposed to the Study Drug, as soon as it becomes available, but in any event 
within fifteen (15) calendar days of becoming aware of such information, will be forwarded to Novartis 
by transmitting it to Novartis Patient Safety team. 
 
Erosion assessment by HR-pQCT 
Image acquisition 
Metacarpal bone erosion will be assessed at MCP 2-4 of the more severely affected or the dominant 
hand if both hands are equally affected using a HR-pQCT system (XtremeCT II; Scanco Medical AG, 
Bruttisellen, Switzerland). This system enables the simultaneous acquisition of CT slices with an 
isotropic resolution (voxel size) of 82 μm. HR-pQCT scanning will be performed by a single investigator 
who is blinded to all the clinical information of the patients. A single examination will be performed for 

8 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
measurements of MCP 2-4. An anteroposterior scout view will be used to define the region of interest 
(ROI). The scan region will be 80 slices distal and 242 slices proximal of the upper margin of the head 
of MCP3. Scan time will be around 8 min per patient and scan (8). The scans will be performed at 
baseline, 24 and 48 weeks. 
 
Erosion identification and measurement of the width and depth 
Erosions are defined as sharply marginated bone lesions with juxta-articular localisation with a cortical 
break seen in at least two adjacent slices, which are often accompanied by loss of the adjacent 
trabecular bone. Erosions will be differentiated from physiological breaks indicating entry of blood 
vessels by the linear shape and occurrence on predilection sites. Pseudo-erosions, structures similar 
to cortical breaks presented by osteophytes, will be excluded (22). Each of the erosions will be 
documented at baseline and 48 weeks. Assessment includes the palmar, ulnar, dorsal as well as the 
radial sides of MCP 2-4 heads investigating overall 322 2D HR-pQCT slices in the transversal, sagittal 
and coronal plane. Every erosion of each patient will be characterised by the maximal width and depth 
of the lesion in the axial, sagittal and coronal using the open source DICOM viewer Osirix V3.2 (Rosslyn, 
VA, USA).  
 
Erosion volume 
The volume of the erosions will be calculated according to the methodology published by Fouque-
Aubert et al (6). The volume of erosions (using the entire volume of interest) will be determined by 
manually defining the ROI including the erosion (V1) or excluding it (V2). The volume of erosions will 
be then calculated as: Verosion= V1−V2; V =sum(A_i*0.082), where A1_i or A2_i is the area on slice i 
(mm2), including or excluding erosion, and 0.082 mm is the thickness of slice (Figure 2).  
 
Osteosclerosis 
The signs of bone apposition at the margin of the erosion will be documented (8, 9). Semi-quantitative 
scoring (0-2 scale) of osteosclerosis will be performed using coronal reconstructions as follows: grade 
0 = 0%, grade 1 = 1-75%, grade 2 = 75-100% bone apposition along the surrounding bone (typical 
images were shown in Figure 3) (23). Quantitative osteosclerosis will also be calculated by choosing 
the area (width =15 vexols) around bone erosion in MCP2-4 as ROI (24). The density of the ROI will be 
calculated as the mean pixel attenuation of that area. 3D registration will be applied to obtain a 
consistent segmentation of the periosteal surface in the vicinity of the cortical break, which is highly 
important for accurate quantification of bone damage. 
 
Defining the healing of erosion  
This is the first study assessing erosion healing using HR-pQCT. Erosion healing is evidenced by a 
decrease in erosion volume and the presence of bone apposition at the margin of the erosion. Based 
on our preliminary data, the smallest detectable change of erosion volume, which was calculated on 

9 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
the basis of 29 individual erosions as suggested by Bruynesteyn et al. (25), was 0.4 mm3. Meanwhile, 
a grade 2 osteosclerosis means dramatic bone apposition at the erosion margin (>75%). Therefore, a 
decrease in erosion volume of ≥0.4 mm3 from baseline, and the presence of grade 2 osteosclerosis at 
the surface of erosion at 24 or 48 weeks is considered as strong evidence of erosion healing. 
Osteophytes 
The maximal height of each osteophyte will be documented by assessing the maximal distance between 
the surface of the osteophyte and the original cortical bone surface using the open source DICOM 
viewer Osirix V3.2 (Rosslyn, VA, USA) (17). The change of the maximal height between baseline and 
52 weeks will be calculated. 
Images will be evaluated by two independent readers blinded to the clinical data. Based on the post-
hoc analysis of a 6-months open-label randomized-controlled trial conducted by us (26), intra-observer 
reproducibility was 0.987, 0.994, 0.982, and 0.983 for erosion width, depth, volume and quantitative 
osteosclerosis, respectively. Inter-observer reproducibility as determined by intraclass correlation 
coefficient was: 0.977, 0.979, 0.962, and 0.974 for erosion width, depth, volume and quantitative 
osteosclerosis, respectively. Inter-reader agreement for the assessment of detecting the presence or 
the grade of osteosclerosis was also high (Kappa: 0.81~0.91). 
Joint Space Width analysis 
Volumetric joint space will be quantified using an algorithm developed by consensus from the Study 
grouP for eXtreme Computed Tomography in Rheumatoid Arthritis (SPECTRA) [33]. The 3-D JSW 
including mean (JSW.Mean, mm), maximum (JSW.Max, mm), minimum (JSW.Min, mm), SD (JSW.SD, 
mm), asymmetry [defined as JSW.Asymm = ratio of JSW.Max/JSW.Min,] as well as volume (JSV, mm3) 
will be calculated. Cuts through the sagittal and coronal planes (2-dimensional) will be automatically 
generated for visualization. A rheumatologist with HR-pQCT expertise will review all joints and score for 
degree of luxation (none, subluxation, luxation) and bone-on-bone contact (yes, no). 
 
Ultrasound assessment of synovitis, dactylitis, enthesitis and digital pulleys  
Each patient will undergo musculoskeletal ultrasound assessment of synovitis, dactylitis, enthesitis and 
the digital pulleys.  The following anatomical sites and structures will be examined: (1) bilateral wrists, 
(2) bilateral metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints 1-5, (3) bilateral proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint 2-
4, (4) interphalangeal joint of the thumbs, (4) bilateral distal interphalangeal (DIP) joints 2-4, (5) digits 
suspected of dactylitis, (6) digital pulleys A1, A2, A3, A4 and A5 of digits 2-4 of the more severely 
affected or the dominant hand if both hands are equally affected, (7) entheses including common 
extensor tendon at lateral epicondyle of humerus, the common flexor tendon at medial epicondyle of 
humerus, triceps tendon at olecranon process of ulnar, quadriceps femoris tendon at superior border of 
patella, patellar tendon at inferior border of patella and tibial tuberosity, Achilles tendon at calcaneus 
and plantar fascia at medial tubercle of calcaneus at baseline, week 24 and week 48 of follow-up.  
Baseline US will be performed on the same day, or within 1 week of clinical and laboratory assessment.  

10 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
The US examination of each patient will be performed by 1 rheumatologist trained in musculoskeletal 
US and blinded to clinical and laboratory data.  Each patient will undergo bilateral dynamic B-mode 
and power Doppler US examination.   
 
OMERACT definitions for ultrasonographic pathologies, elementary lesions, definitions and scoring for 
enthesitis in spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis are used (27-29).   For the assessment of dactylitis, 
a variety of elementary lesions including flexor tendon tenosynovitis, joint synovitis, extratendinous soft 
tissue thickening, extensor tendonitis, enthesitis (finger extensor tendon, collateral ligaments, flexor 
fibrous sheaths, flexor pulleys, functional entheses), tenosynovitis, paratendonitis, synovitis, 
subcutaneous/peritendon tissue inflammation, proliferative and erosive bone changes will be assessed.  
Two measurements (transverse and longitudinal) will be done for assessing the thickness of the pulleys.  
The thickness of the A1, A3 and A5 pulley will be measured at the level of MCP, PIP and DIP level 
respectively.  The A2 and A4 pulleys’ thickness will be assessed in full extension, in correspondence 
to the proximal and middle phalanx, from their thickest sites.  The US machine used is Esaote 
MyLabClass-C equipped with a 6-18 MHz linear array transducer and 6-18 MHz hockey stick probe.  
The scanning technique will follow the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) standardized 
procedures for US imaging in rheumatology. The B-mode and power Doppler settings will be optimized 
and fixed for all the examinations. 
 
Erosion and joint space narrowing assessment by radiographs 
Radiographs at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks will be obtained and assessed by one radiologist and one 
rheumatologist who are masked to treatment groups. Radiological progression will be assessed using 
the Sharp-van der Heijde modified scoring method for PsA [34]. This method is based on the Sharp-
van der Heijde method for assessing erosions and joint space narrowing of joints of hands and feet in 
RA. In addition to the joints evaluated for rheumatoid arthritis, the distal interphalangeal joints (DIPs) of 
the hands are assessed. It evaluates erosions in 20 joints in each hand and wrist, and six joints in each 
foot. These erosions are scored on a scale of 1–5 in the hands depending on the surface area affected 
and 0–10 in the feet. Total erosion scores range from 0 to 200 in the hands and 0 to 120 in the feet. 
Joint Space Narrowing (JSN) is assessed in 20 joints in each hand and wrist, and six joints in each foot 
on a scale of 1–4. The score of JSN ranges from 0 to 160 in the hands and from 0 to 48 in the feet. 
 
Data processing and analysis Statistical analyses will be performed using the Statistics Package for 
Social Sciences (SPSS). Data will be analysed in an intention-to-treat manner. Patients who 
discontinued treatment or violated treatment protocol will be excluded from analysis. Missing data are 
assumed missing at random and will be treated using a multiple Imputation method (30). Based on the 
pilot study and our previous experience, the missing data is estimated to be less than 5%. Descriptive 
statistics will be used for demographic and clinical variables included frequencies, means and standard 
deviations, median and interquartile range. T-test, Mann-Whitney U test and Chi-square test will be 

11 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
used to evaluate differences in baseline characteristics between secukinumab group and placebo group. 
Changes of the outcome measurements between groups will be tested using t-test, Mann-Whitney U 
test, repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) or Chi-square test where appropriate. 
Multivariate linear or logistic regression will be used to explore the association between the use of 
secukinumab and outcome measurements adjusting for baseline characteristics. A 2-tailed probability 
value of p <0.05 is considered statistically significant. 
 
Reference 
1. 
Mortezavi M, Thiele R, Ritchlin C. The joint in psoriatic arthritis. Clinical and 
experimental rheumatology. 2015;33(5 Suppl 93):S20-5. 
2. 
Kane D, Stafford L, Bresnihan B, FitzGerald O. A prospective, clinical and radiological 
study of early psoriatic arthritis: an early synovitis clinic experience. Rheumatology (Oxford, 
England). 2003;42(12):1460-8. 
3. 
Acosta Felquer ML, FitzGerald O. Peripheral joint involvement in psoriatic arthritis 
patients. Clinical and experimental rheumatology. 2015;33(5 Suppl 93):S26-30. 
4. 
Gossec L, Smolen JS, Ramiro S, de Wit M, Cutolo M, Dougados M, et al. European 
League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the management of psoriatic 
arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2015 update. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 
2016;75(3):499-510. 
5. 
Poggenborg RP, Bird P, Boonen A, Wiell C, Pedersen SJ, Sorensen IJ, et al. Pattern of 
bone erosion and bone proliferation in psoriatic arthritis hands: a high-resolution computed 
tomography and radiography follow-up study during adalimumab therapy. Scandinavian 
journal of rheumatology. 2014;43(3):202-8. 
6. 
Fouque-Aubert A, Boutroy S, Marotte H, Vilayphiou N, Bacchetta J, Miossec P, et al. 
Assessment of hand bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis by high-resolution peripheral quantitative 
CT. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2010;69(9):1671-6. 
7. 
Lee CH, Srikhum W, Burghardt AJ, Virayavanich W, Imboden JB, Link TM, et al. 
Correlation of structural abnormalities of the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints evaluated 
by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, 3 Tesla magnetic resonance 
imaging and conventional radiographs in rheumatoid arthritis. International journal of 
rheumatic diseases. 2015;18(6):628-39. 
8. 
Finzel S, Rech J, Schmidt S, Engelke K, Englbrecht M, Schett G. Interleukin-6 receptor 
blockade induces limited repair of bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis: a micro CT study. 
Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2013;72(3):396-400. 
9. 
Finzel S, Rech J, Schmidt S, Engelke K, Englbrecht M, Stach C, et al. Repair of bone 
erosions in rheumatoid arthritis treated with tumour necrosis factor inhibitors is based on bone 
apposition at the base of the erosion. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2011;70(9):1587-93. 
10. Miossec P, Korn T, Kuchroo VK. Interleukin-17 and type 17 helper T cells. The New 

12 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
England journal of medicine. 2009;361(9):888-98. 
11. Menon B, Gullick NJ, Walter GJ, Rajasekhar M, Garrood T, Evans HG, et al. Interleukin-
17+CD8+ T cells are enriched in the joints of patients with psoriatic arthritis and correlate with 
disease activity and joint damage progression. Arthritis & rheumatology (Hoboken, NJ). 
2014;66(5):1272-81. 
12. Mease PJ, McInnes IB, Kirkham B, Kavanaugh A, Rahman P, van der Heijde D, et al. 
Secukinumab Inhibition of Interleukin-17A in Patients with Psoriatic Arthritis. The New 
England journal of medicine. 2015;373(14):1329-39. 
13. Finzel S, Englbrecht M, Engelke K, Stach C, Schett G. A comparative study of 
periarticular bone lesions in rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. Annals of the rheumatic 
diseases. 2011;70(1):122-7. 
14. van der Heijde D, Salonen D, Weissman BN, Landewe R, Maksymowych WP, Kupper H, 
et al. Assessment of radiographic progression in the spines of patients with ankylosing 
spondylitis treated with adalimumab for up to 2 years. Arthritis research & therapy. 
2009;11(4):R127. 
15. van der Heijde D, Landewe R, Baraliakos X, Houben H, van Tubergen A, Williamson P, 
et al. Radiographic findings following two years of infliximab therapy in patients with 
ankylosing spondylitis. Arthritis and rheumatism. 2008;58(10):3063-70. 
16. van der Heijde D, Landewe R, Einstein S, Ory P, Vosse D, Ni L, et al. Radiographic 
progression of ankylosing spondylitis after up to two years of treatment with etanercept. 
Arthritis and rheumatism. 2008;58(5):1324-31. 
17. Finzel S, Kraus S, Schmidt S, Hueber A, Rech J, Engelke K, et al. Bone anabolic changes 
progress in psoriatic arthritis patients despite treatment with methotrexate or tumour necrosis 
factor inhibitors. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2013;72(7):1176-81. 
18. Baeten D, Sieper J, Braun J, Baraliakos X, Dougados M, Emery P, et al. Secukinumab, an 
Interleukin-17A Inhibitor, in Ankylosing Spondylitis. The New England journal of medicine. 
2015;373(26):2534-48. 
19. Sherlock JP, Joyce-Shaikh B, Turner SP, Chao CC, Sathe M, Grein J, et al. IL-23 induces 
spondyloarthropathy by acting on ROR-gammat+ CD3+CD4-CD8- entheseal resident T cells. 
Nature medicine. 2012;18(7):1069-76. 
20. Ono T, Okamoto K, Nakashima T, Nitta T, Hori S, Iwakura Y, et al. IL-17-producing 
gammadelta T cells enhance bone regeneration. Nature communications. 2016;7:10928. 
21. Mumtaz A, Gallagher P, Kirby B, Waxman R, Coates LC, Veale JD, et al. Development 
of a preliminary composite disease activity index in psoriatic arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 
2011;70(2):272-7. 
22. Finzel S, Ohrndorf S, Englbrecht M, Stach C, Messerschmidt J, Schett G, et al. A detailed 
comparative study of high-resolution ultrasound and micro-computed tomography for 
detection of arthritic bone erosions. Arthritis and rheumatism. 2011;63(5):1231-6. 

13 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
23. Regensburger A, Rech J, Englbrecht M, Finzel S, Kraus S, Hecht K, et al. A comparative 
analysis of magnetic resonance imaging and high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed 
tomography of the hand for the detection of erosion repair in rheumatoid arthritis. 
Rheumatology (Oxford, England). 2015;54(9):1573-81. 
24. Pakdel A, Robert N, Fialkov J, Maloul A, Whyne C. Generalized method for computation 
of true thickness and x-ray intensity information in highly blurred sub-millimeter bone features 
in clinical CT images. Physics in medicine and biology. 2012;57(23):8099-116. 
25. Bruynesteyn K, Boers M, Kostense P, van der Linden S, van der Heijde D. Deciding on 
progression of joint damage in paired films of individual patients: smallest detectable 
difference or change. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 2005;64(2):179-82. 
26. Wong P, Zhu TY, Qin L, Li EK, Tam L-S. AB0384 Comparison of the Effect of 
Denosumab and Alendronate on Bone Density and Microarchitecture at the 2ND Metacarpal 
Head in Rheumatoid Arthritis Females with Low Bone Mass by High- Resolution Peripheral 
Quantitative Computer Tomography: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial. Annals of the 
rheumatic diseases. 2015;74(Suppl 2):1021. 
27. Wakefield RJ, Balint PV, Szkudlarek M, Filippucci E, Backhaus M, D'Agostino MA, et 
al. Musculoskeletal ultrasound including definitions for ultrasonographic pathology. J 
Rheumatol. 2005;32(12):2485-7. 
28. Bruyn GA, Iagnocco A, Naredo E, Balint PV, Gutierrez M, Hammer HB, et al. 
OMERACT Definitions for Ultrasonographic Pathologies and Elementary Lesions of 
Rheumatic Disorders 15 Years On. J Rheumatol. 2019;46(10):1388-93. 
29. Balint PV, Terslev L, Aegerter P, Bruyn GAW, Chary-Valckenaere I, Gandjbakhch F, et al. 
Reliability of a consensus-based ultrasound definition and scoring for enthesitis in 
spondyloarthritis and psoriatic arthritis: an OMERACT US initiative. Ann Rheum Dis. 
2018;77(12):1730-5. 
30. Rubin DB. Inference and missing data. Biometrika. 1976;63(3):581-92. 
 
 
 

14 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
Table 1. The minimal disease activity (MDA) criteria of Coates, et al (1). Patients are deemed to be in 
MDA when they meet 5 of 7 of the criteria. 
 
Feature  
 
Cutoff 
Pain by VAS, 0–100 
≤15 
Global disease by VAS, 0–100 
≤20 
HAQ, 0–3 
≤0.5 
Tender joint count 
≤1 
Swollen joint count 
≤1 
PASI, 0–72 
≤1 
      OR body surface area involved, 0–100% 
≤3 
Enthesitis 
≤1 
 
VAS: visual analog scale; HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire (2); PASI: Psoriasis Area and 
Severity Index (3). Enthesial sites assessed include the bilateral first costochondral joints, seventh 
costochondral joints, posterior superior iliac spines, anterior superior iliac spines, iliac crests, proximal 
insertion of Achilles tendons, and the fifth lumbar spinous process. 
 
References: 
1. 
Coates LC, Fransen J, Helliwell PS. Defining minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis: a 
proposed objective target for treatment. Ann Rheum Dis. 2010;69(1):48-53. 
2. 
Pincus T, Swearingen C, Wolfe F. Toward a multidimensional Health Assessment Questionnaire 
(MDHAQ): assessment of advanced activities of daily living and psychological status in the 
patient-friendly 
health 
assessment 
questionnaire 
format. Arthritis 
& 
Rheumatism. 
1999;42(10):2220-30. 
3. 
Fredriksson T, Pettersson U. Severe psoriasis--oral therapy with a new retinoid. Dermatologica. 
1978;157(4):238-44 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

15 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
 
 

16 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020 
 

17 
PsA MCP2 Secukiumab-Placebo RCT Study 
Protocol version 4.0 dated 20 Mar 2020