Psoriatic Pain

The journal of Rheumatology and Therapy published a report on the first use of mediation modeling* to explore psoriatic arthritis and its relationship to pain and inflammation: does tofacitinib help? Data from 2 studies of psoriatic arthritis patients was pooled; patients were treated with a placebo or 5 mg of tofacitinib twice a day. Researchers used various methods—including swollen joint count, Itch Severity Item, C-reactive protein levels, swollen joint count, and the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index—to ascertain the impact of tofacitinib treatment on pain improvement.

Findings include:

• A significant mediator of treatment effect on pain in tofacitinib-treated patients with psoriatic arthritis was inflammation
• 70.5% of the effect of tofacitinib on pain was mediated, collectively, by itch, C-reactive protein, and enthesitis
• Itch was identified as the main mediator of treatment effect—37.4% in final respecified mediation model
• Clinicians should assess signs & symptoms to facilitate treatment of pain and increase quality of life

The study concluded, “inflammation may be a significant mediator of the overall effect of tofacitinib on pain relief in patients with PsA. The majority of the effect of tofacitinib on pain was collectively mediated by itch, CRP, and enthesitis, with itch being the primary mediator of treatment effect. Other potential mediators need to be identified to better understand the treatment effect of tofacitinib on pain.”

 

Read the article.

*Used to explain mechanisms underlying a relationship between dependent and independent variables via other explanatory variables, termed mediators

Other Categories:

• arthritis

• inflammation

• inflammatory skin disease

• research/study

• skin conditions