Biomarkers to Diagnose Early Arthritis in Patients With Psoriasis.

BACKGROUND Psoriatic arthritis is a potentially destructive, inflammatory joint disease that affects 20% to 30% of patients with psoriasis. Psoriasis precedes the onset of joint inflammation by approximately 10 years, providing a unique opportunity to intervene and prevent or delay onset of musculoskeletal manifestations. The emergence of sensitive imaging modalities and cellular biomarkers may facilitate early identification of patients with psoriasis who have subclinical joint disease and might help stratify patients with an early onset of arthritis. METHODS The translational studies described herein are focused on the development of cellular biomarkers identified with flow cytometry and cell culture techniques in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION The combination of power Doppler ultrasound imaging and cellular biomarkers (ie, CD16 and dendritic cell specific transmembrane protein) to diagnose early psoriatic arthritis and to stratify patients with established psoriatic arthritis provides a new opportunity to optimize treatment outcomes in this potentially disabling disease.