A multicentre study on high-frequency ultrasound evaluation of the skin and joints in patients with psoriatic arthritis treated with infliximab

Our objective was to describe the ultrasound features of patients with PsA in joints and skin and their changes after treatment with infliximab. Eight hospitals recruited PsA active patients. Clinical (joint count for pain, TJC, and swelling, SJC, pain VAS, ESR, C-reactive protein and PASI) and US variables (plaque thickness, PD signal of dermal lesions, synovitis, erosions, and PD signal, assessed by 4-category ordinal scales) were independently recorded at baseline and 4, 12 and 24-week after starting treatment with infliximab. The results were analysed with paired T, Wilcoxon test, ANOVA and marginal homogeneity test. Changes in 24 patients from baseline to last available data were significant for clinical variables, pain VAS, TJC and SJC as well as for ESR, CRP (all p