Psoriasis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Psoriasis, including details on treatment, prevention, medication, causes.

Consensus exercise on domains in psoriatic arthritis.

Gladman DD

University of Toronto, Toronto Western Research Institute, Psoriatic Arthritis Program, University Health Network, Centre for Prognosis Studies in the Rheumatic Diseases, Toronto Western Hospital, Ontario M5T 2S8, Canada. dafna.gladman@utoronto.ca

Recent studies with biological therapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have highlighted the need for validated and widely accepted assessment tools and outcome measures for this disease. A Delphi process was established through the CASPAR group where domains for assessment of PsA in clinical trials, longitudinal studies, and rehabilitation were identified. Although the process reduced the list of possible domains to approximately 12, it was not able to detect those that would be most important. Moreover, skin assessment was left out. A further study through the GRAPPA group subsequently identified the following domains: inflammation (peripheral joints, axial skeleton, physician global assessment), other features (dactylitis, enthesitis), skin and nails, imaging, biomarkers, and patient derived indices (pain, quality of life, itch, function), as important in the assessment of patients with PsA. These domains require further refining, and instruments to measure the items need to be developed.

Published 14 February 2005 in Ann Rheum Dis, 64: ii113-4.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Psoriasis Research Today. All Rights Reserved.