INCREASED VASCULAR INFLAMMATION ON PET-CT IN PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS IN COMPARISON WITH HEALTHY CONTROLS
Abstract: OP0026
Authors: Kleinrensink NJ et al.
Key content:
75 PsA patients from an ongoing clinical trial (TOFA-PREDICT) with active arthritis involving > 2 joints underwent PET-CT to investigate potential vascular inflammation. As a control group, PET-CTs from 40 patients with melanoma, but no metastasis or checkpoint inhibitor therapy, were analysed retrospectively. The main outcome measure was aortic vascular inflammation that was increased in PsA patients in comparison to controls (mean target-to-background ratio TBR for the entire aorta was 1.53 + 0.15 versus 1.42 + 0.13, p< 0.001). This association remained after adjustment for gender, age, BMI and mean arterial pressure. Of note, vascular inflammation was not associated with disease-related parameters.
Relevance:
PsA patients have a well known increased risk for cardiovascular events that has been attributed to underlying chronic inflammation. This data supports the view that PsA represents an inflammatory disease that involves the aorta including the ascending part, the aortic arch, and the supra- and infrarenal descending aorta. Previous studies on the use of PET-CT in other inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis have focused on the assessment of joint involvement or evaluated its use in detection of concomitant malignancies. It would be interesting, whether these findings are unique for PsA or a more common phenomenon including other inflammatory diseases. However, costs and radiation exposure will likely limit subsequent trials.
