Psoriatic Arthritis Research Briefs: Etanercept, Bariatric Surgery, Joint Replacement
Keep up-to-date on the latest psoriatic arthritis (PsA) research with our brief research summaries.
When prescribing the biologic drug etanercept (Enbrel), doctors often add methotrexate, believing two drugs will work better than one. A recent study shows that for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) , etanercept may work just as well alone. Examining data from 474 people who either received etanercept alone or etanercept with methotrexate, researchers found little difference between the two in in measures of disease activity or disability after 24 weeks.
Source: Journal of Rheumatology, June 2016
People with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who undergo bariatric surgery may experience significant improvement in both skin and joint symptoms , according to research from NYU Langone’s Psoriatic Arthritis Center.
Doctors looked at symptoms before and after weight loss in 86 patients who had psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Those with severe disease activity at the time of surgery and the greatest weight loss improved the most. The study authors say there is growing evidence that excess weight increases disease severity and negatively affects response to medications.
Source: ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, 2015
Although women often have their first hip or knee replacement at an older age than men, they are less likely than men to have surgery-related complications or require revision surgery, according to a Canadian study. The study, which examined the outcomes of 37,881 total hip and 59,564 total knee replacement surgeries, found that, overall, serious complication rates were low for both men and women. However, men were more likely to have heart attacks in the three months following surgery, return to the emergency department within 30 days of hospital discharge after surgery, or experience an infection or require revision surgery within two years of total knee replacement.
SOURCE: 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
For PsA, Etanercept Alone Works Similarly to Combination Therapy
When prescribing the biologic drug etanercept (Enbrel), doctors often add methotrexate, believing two drugs will work better than one. A recent study shows that for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) , etanercept may work just as well alone. Examining data from 474 people who either received etanercept alone or etanercept with methotrexate, researchers found little difference between the two in in measures of disease activity or disability after 24 weeks.
Source: Journal of Rheumatology, June 2016
Bariatric Surgery Eases PsA Symptoms
People with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who undergo bariatric surgery may experience significant improvement in both skin and joint symptoms , according to research from NYU Langone’s Psoriatic Arthritis Center.
Doctors looked at symptoms before and after weight loss in 86 patients who had psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Those with severe disease activity at the time of surgery and the greatest weight loss improved the most. The study authors say there is growing evidence that excess weight increases disease severity and negatively affects response to medications.
Source: ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, 2015
Women Have Fewer Complications Following Joint Replacement Surgery
Although women often have their first hip or knee replacement at an older age than men, they are less likely than men to have surgery-related complications or require revision surgery, according to a Canadian study. The study, which examined the outcomes of 37,881 total hip and 59,564 total knee replacement surgeries, found that, overall, serious complication rates were low for both men and women. However, men were more likely to have heart attacks in the three months following surgery, return to the emergency department within 30 days of hospital discharge after surgery, or experience an infection or require revision surgery within two years of total knee replacement.
SOURCE: 2015 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
