Apremilast for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis

Abstract

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory arthropathy that affects joints and entheses and is associated with psoriasis (PsO). There are five clinical patterns of PsA: symmetrical polyarthritis, distal interphalangeal arthropathy, asymmetrical oligoarthritis, arthritis mutilans, and spondylitis, with or without sacroiliitis. Concerning PsA, the goals of therapy are to control inflammation, prevent articular damage, and reduce discomfort in the affected joints. Although there are many therapeutic options for the treatment of PsAs, physicians most often begin with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for mild disease. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) are reserved for moderate to severe disease. Apremilast may be a useful option for some patients.