Early peripheral psoriatic arthritis: Baseline features of the first 186 patients in the French Nationwide APACHE Cohort

Pascal Claudepierre; Cecile Gaujoux-Viala; Arnaud Constantin; Francis Berenbaum; Bernard Combe; Valerie Devauchelle; Philippe Goupille; Pascal Richette; Daniel Wendling; Gael Mouterde; Tristan Pascart; Benedicte Razat; Etienne Audureau; Sandrine Jousse-Joulin; Laure Gossec

doi:10.1016/j.jbspin.2025.105930

Early peripheral psoriatic arthritis: Baseline features of the first 186 patients in the French Nationwide APACHE Cohort

Joint Bone Spine. 2025 May 27;92(6):105930. doi: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2025.105930. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ AP-HP, Henri-Mondor Hospital, Department of Rheumatology, 94000 Créteil, France; EpiDermE, Université Paris Est Créteil, 94000 Créteil, France. Electronic address: pascal.claudepierre@aphp.fr.
² UM1318, Desbrest Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health (IDESP), Montpellier University, Inserm, Department of Rheumatology, CHU de Nîmes, 30900 Nîmes, France.
³ Pierre-Paul-Riquet University Hospital, Toulouse University, Inserm U1291, 31300 Toulouse, France.
⁴ Sorbonne Université, Inserm CRSA, Department of Rheumatology, AP-HP, Saint-Antoine University Hospital, 75012 Paris, France.
⁵ CHU de Montpellier, Montpellier University, 34295 Montpellier, France.
⁶ Department of Rheumatology, Brest University, Inserm 1227, 29200 Brest, France.
⁷ Tours University, UPR CNRS 4301 CBM, NMNS, Department of Rheumatology, Tours University Hospital, 37044 Tours cedex 9, France.
⁸ Paris Cité University, Inserm U1132, Department of Rheumatology, AP-HP, Lariboisière University Hospital, 75010 Paris, France.
⁹ Université de Franche-Comté, Besançon University Hospital, 25000 Besançon, France.
¹⁰ Department of Rheumatology, CHU de Montpellier, Desbrest Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health (IDESP), Montpellier University, 34295 Montpellier, France.
¹¹ Department of Rheumatology, Saint-Philibert Hospital, Lille Catholic University, 59160 Lille, France.
¹² University Hospital, 31300 Toulouse, France.
¹³ Clinical Research Unit, AP-HP, Henri-Mondor University Hospital, 94000 Créteil, France.
¹⁴ Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut Pierre-Louis d'Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Team Pepites, 75013 Paris, France; AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière University Hospital, Rheumatology Department, 75013 Paris, France.

PMID: 40441347
DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2025.105930

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the design and methodology of APACHE, a cohort of patients with early peripheral psoriatic arthritis (pPsA), and to assess the main baseline clinical characteristics of the first included patients.

Methods: APACHE is an ongoing prospective multicentre national cohort (NCT03768271) with a planned follow-up of 10years. Included patients have recent-onset (<12months) peripheral arthritis, a personal and/or family history of psoriasis, pPsA diagnosed by a rheumatologist, and no history of targeted disease-modifying antirheumatic drug therapy. At inclusion, demographic data, disease activity, comorbidities, and imaging results (not reported here) are collected. A descriptive analysis of these data was performed.

Results: The first 186 study patients had a mean age of 44±11years and mean arthritis duration of 6±4months; 84 (45%) were women; 169 (91%) had a history of psoriasis (mean duration, 14years) and 71 (38%) were receiving methotrexate. Disease activity was moderate with a mean DAPSA score of 19±14 and mean swollen and tender joint counts of 2.1±3.2 and 6.0±8.0, respectively. The initially involved joints were mainly the hands (40%) and knees (28%). Entheseal pain (39%) was more prevalent than dactylitis (27%). Comorbidities were common, with obesity in 27% and at least one cardiovascular risk factor or disease in 49% of patients.

Conclusion: Patients with early peripheral PsA had moderate disease activity, a predominant oligoarticular profile, and a high prevalence of entheseal pain.

Keywords: Cohort; Early disease; Phenotype; Psoriatic arthritis; Sex factors.