Current characteristics of a population of psoriatic arthritis and gender disparities.

Abstract

Background and aim: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a polymorphic disease associated with numerous comorbidities. The objective of this study was to describe the main clinicobiological and imaging characteristics of a population of PsA and to extract any disparities between men and women.

Methods: A total of 132 patients in the rheumatology department of Amiens University Hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of PsA according to the CASPAR criteria were included over a period of 4 months. All data were collected retrospectively in this observational and single-center study.

Results: The sex ratio was 1 and the average age at inclusion was 54.9 years. Peripheral PsA was the predominant clinical form. Axial PsA represented 12.1% of cases. Enthesitis was noted in 52.3% of cases while dactylitis was identified in 29.5% of cases. Moreover, 12.1% had a joint symptomatology preceding the appearance of cutaneous signs. HLA-B*27 positivity was found in 33.3% of cases. Chronic hyperuricemia accounted for 10% of our population. Sacroiliitis was observed in 41% of cases. The disparities between men and women are multiple and consistent with the literature: Polyarticular form, enthesitis, obesity, more intensive prescription of s-DMARDs, and b-DMARDs are more associated with the female population. Oligoarticular form, psoriatic nail dystrophy, radiological axial involvement, and chronic hyperuricemia are more encountered in the male population.

Conclusions: Our study found a very heterogeneous disease, with marked differences between men and women. Peripheral PsA remains predominant but the search for associated axial involvement, which is probably underestimated, seems essential.

Relevance for patients: This work studied the main characteristics of patients with PsA followed in real life, in a regional university reference center. We have highlighted a very heterogeneous disease as well as some gender disparities, not well described in the literature, which should be taken into account in order to optimize therapeutic management.