FRI0625 Improvement of joint inflammation as assessed by MRI and power doppler ultrasound (PDUS) in an open label study in patients with active psoriatic arthritis treated with secukinumab (PSARTROS)
Authors: E Kampylafka, I D'Oliveira, C Linz, V Lerchen, M Englbrecht, A Kleyer, J Rech, G Schett, AJ Hueber
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2017)

<h3>Background</h3> Secukinumab, an anti-interleukin 17A monoclonal antibody, showed significant improvement of signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in FUTURE 1 study. Available studies used conventional radiography, not allowing a deeper imaging analysis of the inflammatory changes during application. <h3>Objectives</h3> To assess short term efficacy of secukinumab on inflammation and structural damage according to change in OMERACT-EULAR ultrasound score and the MRI PsAMRIS score in PsA patients. <h3>Methods</h3> PsA patients with active disease (TJC and SJC ≥3), were included in the 24 week open label prospective PSARTROS study and treated with subcutaneous secukinumab 300 mg once weekly over 4 weeks, then once every 4 weeks. Baseline 1,5T MRI hand scans and ultrasound imaging of 28 joints were performed at baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment. MRI was scored according to PsAMRIS, ultrasound for synovial hypertrophy and Doppler activity according to OMERACT scores. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05. <h3>Results</h3> 20 patients, mean age 52±9.9 years, 60% female, mean disease duration 6.7±5.9 years, 50% naïve for biological therapy, were included in the study. Three patients were early discontinued (recurrent pharyngitis, lack of efficacy, withdrawal of consent), and were not included into the longitudinal analysis. Baseline DAS28 was 5.03±0.96, baseline DAPSA was 32.2±12. 1. On baseline MRI, all patients had at least one inflammatory sign (synovitis: 90%, osteitis: 20%, periarticular inflammation: 25%, flexor tenosynovitis: 35%, bone proliferation: 30%, erosions: 60%). Baseline composite PsAMRIS score was 11.6±12.8 and baseline PsAMRIS synovitis score was 3.7±3.3. Baseline ultrasound synovial hypertrophy and Doppler activity were 6.2±4.5 and 3.5±4.0, respectively. Specific MRI and ultrasound scores were significantly correlated with DAS28 and DAPSA at baseline. Clinical disease activity parameters significantly improved at follow up (DAS28: 2.94±0.95, p&lt;0.001; DAPSA: 8.8±5.8, p&lt;0.001). PsAMRIS synovitis score (2.5±2.4) as well as composite PsAMRIS score (8.8±10.0) decreased longitudinally with secukinumab treatment (p=0.034 and p=0.039, respectively). There was no progression in erosion or proliferation scores between baseline and follow-up. Synovial hypertrophy and Doppler activity in ultrasound also significantly improved with secukinumab treatment (2.3±3.5; p=0.009 and 1.8±2.7; p=0.003, respectively). A significant percentage of patients reaching minimal disease activity showed residual signs of synovitis in the MRI and US (66% and 50%, respectively). <h3>Conclusions</h3> Secukinumab significantly improves MRI and ultrasound signs of joint inflammation in patients with PsA. <h3>Acknowledgements</h3> This study was supported by an unrestricted grant from Novartis. <h3>Disclosure of Interest</h3> None declared