Treatment of Dactylitis and Enthesitis in Psoriatic Arthritis with Biologic Agents: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis

Abstract

Objective.Biologic agents with different mechanisms of action [inhibitors of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-12/23, and IL-17] showed efficacy in randomized controlled trials (RCT) in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. We conducted a pooled metaanalysis of these agents for treatment of dactylitis and enthesitis and compared results with the American College of Rheumatology 20 (ACR20) response and Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index (HAQ-DI) scores.Methods.A systematic literature search was performed and a pooled metaanalysis of RCT with anti-TNF-α (infliximab, golimumab, adalimumab), anti–IL-12/23 (ustekinumab), and anti–IL-17 (secu kinumab, ixekizumab) was conducted using the random-effects model. Bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool.Results.Eighteen RCT were included in the pooled analysis (n = 6981). Both TNF-α inhibitors and novel biologics (ustekinumab, secukinumab, ixekizumab) demonstrated significant resolution of dactylitis at Week 24 with pooled risk ratios (RR) versus placebo of 2.57 (95% CI 1.36–4.84) and 1.88 (95% CI 1.33–2.65), respectively. For resolution of enthesitis at Week 24, RR for TNF-α inhibitors was 1.93 (95% CI 1.33–2.79) versus 1.95 (95% CI 1.60–2.38) for novel biologics. Both biologic categories showed overlapping ranges of ACR20 responses (TNF-α inhibitors: RR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.60–3.11; pooled IL-12/23 and −17: RR = 2.30, 95% CI 1.94–2.72) and similar quality of life improvement scores with mean HAQ-DI score changes of −0.29 (95% CI −0.39 to −0.19) and −0.26 (95% CI −0.31 to −0.22), respectively.Conclusion.The pooled analysis demonstrated that anti–TNF-α agents have the same efficacy as novel agents (ustekinumab, secukinumab, and ixekizumab) in dactylitis and enthesitis.