Potential role of apremilast for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. (June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Souto, Alejandro; Gómez-Reino, Juan J
• Is Part Of: International journal of clinical rheumatology. Volume 9:Number 3(2014)
• Page Start: 259
• Page End: 266
• Publication Date: 2014-06
• Subjects: apremilast -- phosphodiesterase 4 -- psoriatic arthritis; Rheumatology -- Periodicals; 616.723005
• DOI: 10.2217/ijr.14.21
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1758-4272

Abstract

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints that occurs in patients with psoriasis. Nonbiologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) such as methotrexate and leflunomide, and biologic DMARDs such as TNF antagonists and ustekinumab, have been used in the treatment of this disease. Apremilast is a novel therapy that inhibits phosphodiesterase 4 and increases intracellular cAMP levels. It modulates the expression of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators in favor of anti-inflammatory activity. One Phase II and four Phase III clinical trials showed significant clinical efficacy and a good safety profile of apremilast compared with placebo in patients with active psoriatic arthritis.