Psoriatic arthritis treated by anti-TNFs: a monocentric trial of 102 cases in Auvergne, France.

OBJECTIVES: While several registries have already evaluated the retention of anti-TNF therapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), they sometimes reach divergent conclusions. Our study therefore sought to assess therapeutic retention rates and predictive factors of response in a patient cohort from Auvergne, France, followed up in routine clinical practice. METHODS: Medical records of all PsA patients treated from 2002 to May 2015 were analysed. PsA diagnosis was established based on the CASPAR criteria. RESULTS: In total, 102 patients were analysed, comprising 62 men (44.6±12.6 years) and 40 women (37.8±13.4). Mean PsA evolution was 2.7 years (0.8-11.2). The most common forms were peripheral (47/102, 45.1%) and mixed (46/102, 46.1%) PsA. The anti-TNF treatment initiated was etanercept in 47 cases (45.2%), adalimumab in 29 (27.9%), infliximab in 20 (19.2%), and golimumab in six [5.8%]. In 28 cases (27.4%), anti-TNF was associated with methotrexate (MTX). Overall, the median duration of anti-TNF retention was 76.5 months. The hazard ratios (HR) for treatment cessation did not significantly differ between the etanercept and monoclonal antibody groups (HR=1.35[0.96-1.93], p=0.08). After 5 years, approximately 30.8% of etanercept patients and 68.8% of monoclonal antibody patients (adalimumab 71.2%; infliximab 67.2%) were still being treated. Combining with MTX did not prolong the overall retention rate (HR=0.85[0.37-1.96], p=0.71). Tobacco use was predictive of discontinuation (p=0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrates good anti-TNF treatment retention in PsA patients, as well as confirming the deleterious effect of smoking while providing no argument in favour of combined treatment with MTX to improve maintenance.