Spondyloarthropathies
Abstract #2021: CASPAR Criteria Are Sensitive in Early Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Chandran, et. al.
Purpose: CASPAR is the abbreviation used for the ClASsification of Psoriatic ARthritis study. This is a cohort of patients with psoriatic arthritis who are used in the evaluation of different clinical parameters to assess disease activity as well as application of diagnostic criteria for this condition.
Methods: A group of experts in psoriatic arthritis developed the CASPAR criteria. In order to satisfy these criteria, there must be evidence of inflammatory joint disease plus at least three points accumulated from any of the following features: active psoriasis (two points), history of psoriasis, family history of psoriasis, dactylitis, psoriatic nail dystrophy, negative rheumatoid factor, and juxta-articular new bone formation (one point each).
Results: 280 patients were evaluated in this study. 107 of these patients were classified as having early disease (duration of less than one year). In this group with early disease, 99% satisfied CASPAR criteria.
Comment: These criteria mainly consist of clinical evaluation based on history and physical examination. The two items necessitating further investigation are the juxta-articular new bone formation requiring radiographic evaluation and rheumatoid factor negativity requiring laboratory evaluation. As with any form of arthritis, one of the goals in treatment is to shorten the time between symptoms and diagnoses. This is especially challenging when there is no diagnostic laboratory study. By applying these classification, you can determine with high degree of sensitivity that patients have psoriatic arthritis and thus, hopefully, embark on appropriate therapy at an earlier time.
