The purpose of this study is: * To elucidate the immunomodulating properties of anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). * To ascertain whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a sensitive tool in measuring early response after therapy with anti-TNF-α in the PsA wrist using the Outcome Measures in Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinical Trials (OMERACT) guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). * To assess whether the lipid and other cardiovascular risk profiles would improve after anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with PsA.
The study was a 12-week, open-label trial of anti-TNF therapy in 20 consecutive patients (Group 1). Another 20 consecutive patients with active disease whom have met the exclusion criteria, or were unwilling to start anti-TNF therapy for fear of toxicity would be recruited as control patients (Group 2). 20 healthy controls were recruited for comparison of the metabolic risk factors (Group 3). Study visits for groups 1 and 2 were conducted at baseline, weeks 2 and 6, and then week 12.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Infliximab 5 mg/kg given at day 1, week 2, week 6
Etanercept 25 mg twice weekly
Prince of Wales Hospital
Hong Kong, China
Changes in the degree of inflammation as reflected by the MRI score, cytokines and chemokine levels
Time frame: week 52
Changes in the cardiovascular risk factor levels which are directly mediated by TNF-α
Time frame: week 52
Number of patients who can achieve ACR 20
Time frame: week 52
Correlation of clinical parameter, inflammatory markers and MRI findings
Time frame: week 52
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