THU0381 MANAGEMENT OF CARDIOVASCULAR COMORBIDITY IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS IN THE ROUTINE CLINICAL PRACTICE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF METHOTREXATE OR APREMILAST AS MONOTHERAPY AND COMBINED
Authors: N. Barbarroja Puerto, I. Arias de la Rosa, C. Torres-Granados, M. D. C. Abalos-Aguilera, G. G. Ignacio, I. Añón Oñate, M. J. Pérez Galán, D. Ruiz, A. M. Patiño-Trives, M. Luque-Tévar, E. Collantes Estevez, C. Lopez-Pedrera, A. Escudero Contreras, M. D. López Montilla
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2020)

Background: The presence of cardiovascular disease in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is of particular concern, as it is considered the leading cause of mortality in PsA. Thus, it is essential to recognize those appropriate therapies that could target this comorbidity, reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease and metabolic alterations. Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) and apremilast as monotherapies or in combination, in the clinical manifestations of the disease and the reduction of cardiovascular risk factors in PsA. Methods: Prospective longitudinal study in 30 PsA patients diagnosed according to CASPAR criteria: 10 patients were treated with MTX (12 ± 2,58 mg/week), 10 patients with apremilast (60 mg/day) and 10 were treated with combined therapy for 6 months, recruited in the routine clinical practice at the Reina Sofia Hospital of Cordoba and University Hospital of Jaen, Spain. Clinical and analytical parameters were collected at baseline and after 6 months of treatment: lipid profile (cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TG, ApoA and ApoB), glucose and insulin, body surface area (BSA) affected by psoriasis, number of tender and swollen joints, DAS28, DAPSA, VAS, CRP and ESR. The presence of cardiometabolic risk factors such as metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) was evaluated according to National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) adult treatment panel III (ATP III) criteria, meeting 3 of the following characteristics: abdominal obesity (men (&gt;102 cm); women (&gt;88 cm), TG &gt; 150 mg/dL, HDL (men (&lt;40 mg/dL); women (&lt;50 mg/dL), blood pressure &gt; 130/85 mmHg, glucose levels &gt; 110 mg/dL). Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR &gt; 2,5), body mass index (BMI), ApoB/ApoA ratio, atherogenic index (AI) and SCORE (age, gender, cholesterol, HDL, smoking habit and diabetes) were also studied. Results: Apremilast or MTX monotherapies caused a moderate reduction of the clinical inflammatory markers (CRP and ESR) and disease activity (VAS, DAPSA and DAS28) after 6 months of treatment. On the other hand, while apremilast significantly reduced the affected BSA, MTX had no significant effect. All those parameters were more significantly reduced after the combined treatment (MTX+ apremilast). Apremilast monotherapy significantly improved alterations in the lipid profile (reducing cholesterol and LDL levels, ApoB/ApoA ratio and AI), insulin resistance and decreased BMI, thus reducing the number of patients with MetSyn. MTX monotherapy treatment had no positive effect on these parameters. None of the treatments had significant effects on SCORE values. The beneficial effects of apremilast on the lipid profile were mitigated after the combination with MTX. Nevertheless, the number of patients with MetSyn decreased even more after the combined therapy of MTX with apremilast compared to apremilast monotherapy. Conclusion: 1) In patients with moderate disease activity, treatment with apremilast monotherapy might have some advantages compared to the MTX monotherapy, since it can decrease the percentage of BSA with psoriasis, the lipid profile alteration, IR and weight, thus improving the cardiovascular risk profile. 2) Combined therapy (MTX+ apremilast) can induce a deeper reduction in the disease activity compared to the monotherapies, maintaining, in turn, the positive effects of apremilast on the cardiovascular risk. Funded by ISCIII (PI17/01316 and RIER RD16/0012/0015) co-funded with FEDER. Disclosure of Interests: Nuria Barbarroja Puerto Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Speakers bureau: ROCHE and Celgene., Iván Arias de la Rosa: None declared, Carmen Torres-Granados: None declared, Maria del Carmen Abalos-Aguilera: None declared, Gómez García Ignacio: None declared, Isabel Añón Oñate: None declared, María José Pérez Galán: None declared, Desiree Ruiz: None declared, Alejandra M. Patiño-Trives: None declared, María Luque-Tévar: None declared, Eduardo Collantes Estevez Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer, Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene, Chary Lopez-Pedrera Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer., Alejandro Escudero Contreras Grant/research support from: ROCHE and Pfizer, Speakers bureau: ROCHE, Lilly, Bristol and Celgene., María Dolores López Montilla Speakers bureau: Celgene