New study focuses on progression of psoriatic arthritis

SIR,

I’d be grateful for the opportunity to alert readers who have been diagnosed with the psoriasis skin condition of a new research study that aims to examine their risk of developing arthritis related to psoriasis, or what is known as psoriatic arthritis.

Psoriasis causes flaky, scaly and itchy pink/red patches on the skin and affects more than 3,100 people in Kerry. For one-third of patients, psoriasis can predispose them to developing an associated arthritis, primarily affecting the joints, which causes pain, swelling, stiffness and joint damage.

A team of researchers at University College Dublin is undertaking this research study as part of a Europe-wide initiative in conjunction with the University of Oxford.

The current situation is that we don’t know which patients with psoriasis will go on to develop psoriatic arthritis and which will not.

Our aim is to better determine which psoriasis patients may develop psoriatic arthritis in order to prevent it before it occurs. It will also inform wider research efforts to diagnose the condition earlier and predict disease progression, as well as in developing new diagnostic tests and personalised therapies to better target it.

Anyone over 18 years who has been diagnosed with psoriasis, except those already diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, can take part in the study which is completely online.

Participants will be asked to complete a questionnaire every six months about their psoriasis and other medical conditions, any musculoskeletal symptoms arising, treatments they are receiving, and details of their lifestyle.

Participants will benefit from ongoing monitoring of their condition, and an early diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis should it arise, while we also hope it will spell the end of the condition for future generations.

The research team would like to acknowledge the support provided by the Innovative Medicines Initiative together with AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Pfizer, and UCB, in enabling this research to take place.

Readers interested in finding out more about the study can visit www. hpos.study

Sincerely,

Prof. Oliver FitzGerald Consultant Rheumatologist University College Dublin