Psoriatic arthritis - etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab - NICE TAG TA199

1.1 Etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab are recommended for the treatment of adults with active and progressive psoriatic arthritis when the following criteria are met.

• The person has peripheral arthritis with three or more tender joints and three or more swollen joints, and

• The psoriatic arthritis has not responded to adequate trials of at least two standard disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), administered either individually or in combination.

1.2 Treatment as described in 1.1 should normally be started with the least expensive drug (taking into account drug administration costs, required dose and product price per dose). This may need to be varied for individual patients because of differences in the method of administration and treatment schedules.

1.3 Etanercept, adalimumab or infliximab treatment should be discontinued in people whose psoriatic arthritis has not shown an adequate response using the Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC) at 12 weeks. An adequate response is defined as an improvement in at least two of the four PsARC criteria, (one of which has to be joint tenderness or swelling score) with no worsening in any of the four criteria. People whose disease has a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response at 12 weeks but whose PsARC response does not justify continuation of treatment should be assessed by a dermatologist to determine whether continuing treatment is appropriate on the basis of skin response (see 'Etanercept and efalizumab for the treatment of adults with psoriasis' [NICE technology appraisal guidance 103], 'Infliximab for the treatment of adults with psoriasis' [NICE technology appraisal guidance 134] and 'Adalimumab for the treatment of adults with psoriasis' [NICE technology appraisal guidance 146] for guidance on the use of tumour necrosis factor [TNF] inhibitors in psoriasis).

1.4 When using the PsARC healthcare professionals should take into account any physical, sensory or learning disabilities, or communication difficulties that could affect a person's responses to components of the PsARC and make any adjustments they consider appropriate.

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/TA199