Key clinical point: In patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), a 16-week treatment with either a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) or secukinumab improved both active and chronic ultrasound-confirmed enthesitis to a similar extent; however, a TNFi was more effective in reducing active entheseal lesions.
Major finding: The mean reduction in MAdrid Sonographic Enthesitis Index (MASEI) score that assesses both active and chronic entheseal disease was not significantly different with TNFi vs secukinumab treatment (3.42 vs 1.74; P = .097). However, TNFi was significantly more effective than secukinumab when only active entheseal lesions were considered (MASEIActive score 4.37 vs 2.26; P = .030).
Study details: Findings are from an open-label observational study including 80 patients with PsA who received either secukinumab (n = 24) or TNFi (n = 56), of whom 75 patients completed the treatment.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the UK Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance and other sources. The authors reported receiving honoraria from Novartis.
Source: Elliott A et al. Effects of TNF-α inhibition versus secukinumab on active ultrasound-confirmed enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2023; 15:1759720X231179524. (Nov 16). doi: 10.1177/1759720X231179524