Open Access Research article

Hepatic steatosis, carotid plaques and achieving MDA in psoriatic arthritis patients starting TNF-α blockers treatment: a prospective study

Matteo Nicola Dario Di Minno1*, Rosario Peluso2, Salvatore Iervolino3, Roberta Lupoli1, Anna Russolillo1, Giovanni Tarantino1 and Raffaele Scarpa2

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Author affiliations

1 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Reference Centre for Coagulation Disorders, Federico II University, Via Sergio Pansini 5, Naples, 80129 Italy

2 Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Rheumatology Research Unit, Psoriatic Arthritis Clinic, Federico II University, Via Sergio Pansini 5, Naples, 80129 Italy

3 Rheumatology and Rehabilitation Research Unit, I.R.C.C.S. "Salvatore Maugeri" Via Bagni Vecchi 1, Telese Terme (BN), 82037 Italy

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Citation and License

Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012, 14:R211 doi:10.1186/ar4049

Published: 4 October 2012

Abstract

Introduction

We prospectively evaluated whether hepatic steatosis (HS) and the presence of carotid plaques (CPs) impacts on achieving minimal disease activity (MDA) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients starting tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α blockers treatment.

Methods

Before starting treatment with TNF-α blockers, consecutive PsA subjects with an active disease were evaluated for the presence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS), HS and CPs. The incidence of MDA was evaluated 12 and 24 months later.

Results

Among 270 PsA subjects, 91 (33.7%) exhibited the MetS, 58 (21.5%) CPs and 76 (28.1%) HS. At the 12-month follow-up, 98 (36.3%) individuals achieved MDA. Compared with those who did, a higher prevalence of the MetS, HS and CPs was found in subjects who did not achieve the MDA (P always < 0.001). After adjusting for the MetS and for all the other demographic/clinical characteristics analyzed, the presence of HS and CPs at baseline independently predicted the risk of not achieving MDA (Hazard Ratio: 1.91, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04 to 3.38, P = 0.035 and Hazard Ratio: 3.21, 95%CI: 1.64 to 6.29, P = 0.001, respectively). Separate Kaplan-Meier survival models confirmed this (Log-Rank: 12.894, P < 0.001 and Log-Rank: 12.849, P < 0.001, respectively). Compared with those without, progressively increasing Hazard Ratios of not achieving MDA were found in those with HS, CPs or HS + CPs at baseline. Moreover, the presence of HS and/or CPs predicted the risk of relapse during the additional 12-month follow-up (Hazard Ratio: 2.85, 95%CI: 1.27 to 6.37, P = 0.011 and Hazard Ratio: 3.17, 95%CI: 1.57 to 6.41, P = 0.001 respectively).

Conclusions

HS and/or CPs at baseline are negative predictors of achieving and maintaining MDA.