Expert Consensus Expands on Psoriatic Arthritis Management Guidelines
A multidisciplinary expert group has developed new evidence-based recommendations to complement existing guidelines for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) management, addressing key gaps in routine clinical practice.
The consensus statements, published in Rheumatology, covering diagnosis, assessment, comorbidities, and management, emphasize early identification, holistic disease evaluation, and multidisciplinary care.
The recommendations, developed through a targeted literature review and expert discussions, resulted in 34 statements agreed upon by a diverse faculty, including rheumatologists, dermatologists, primary care clinicians, allied health professionals, and patient representatives.
“The guidance comprised 34 statements covering four PsA themes,” the authors noted, with a focus on practical application in clinical settings.
For diagnosis, the panel emphasized early identification strategies, referral pathways, screening tools, and the role of imaging in confirming PsA. Disease assessment recommendations encouraged a comprehensive evaluation, incorporating patient-reported outcomes and shared decision-making.
“Disease assessment centred on holistic consideration of disease activity, physical functioning and impact from a patient perspective,” the study reported.
In managing comorbidities, the recommendations highlighted high-impact conditions such as depression and obesity, recognizing their influence on PsA outcomes. The management section, excluding pharmacological guidance, stressed the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, lifestyle modifications, and treat-to-target strategies. “Minimizing CS use was recommended where feasible,” the authors stated, reflecting a cautious approach to corticosteroid therapy.
These expert-driven recommendations provide practical, evidence-based insights to refine PsA management, supporting clinicians in optimizing patient care beyond current guideline frameworks.
Reference
Coates LC, Bukhari M, Chan A, et al. Enhancing current guidance for psoriatic arthritis and its comorbidities: recommendations from an expert consensus panel. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025;64(2):561-573. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keae172
