Biological therapy in psoriatic arthritis patients with and without previous biologic experience

Objective: this study evaluated the biological therapy effects on disease activity, functionality, quality of life, drug survival, and safety of patients with psoriatic arthritis naïve and experienced in biological therapy. Methods: a oneyear prospective observational study was performed. The outcomes assessed were drug survival, disease activity, functionality, quality of life, and safety. Multiple linear regression was used to assess predictive factors for clinical response.Results: a total of 205 patients were included, 155 of whom were biologic naïve and 50 biologic experienced. Drug survival rate was greater for naïve patients than experienced patients at 6 months, but not at 12 months. Drug survival rates were 71.5% for naïve patients and 70.0% for experienced patients at 12 months. All clinical parameters improved for both biologic naïve and experienced patients. At 12 months, 63% of naïve patients and 52% of experienced patients had an improvement in their quality of life. Besides, 48% of naïve patients and 42% of experienced patients had an improvement in functionality. The axial disease improved in 67% of naïve individuals and 56% of experienced patients. Good control of peripheral disease was achieved by 49% of naïve patients and 44% of experiencedpatients. Female sex, use of etanercept or infliximab, and lower functionality or quality of life at baseline were the main predictors of poor clinical response. Conclusion: Patients’ health improved after starting biological therapy. In general, biologic experienced patients had more adverse reactions and lesser effectiveness.