Treatment algorithms for early psoriatic arthritis: do they depend on disease phenotype?

Psoriatic arthritis is a distinct inflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis and characterized by a broad clinical phenotype. Associated with skin disease, patients may have differing patterns of peripheral joint disease, spondyloarthritis, enthesitis, dactylitis, and nail disease with overlap and transition between phenotypes. Research over the past decade has resulted in a wealth of data to guide management, and several treatment algorithms have recently been published with varying emphasis on disease phenotype. This review discusses the incorporation of phenotype in the treatment of early disease, with extended discussion of current research and new concepts in disease measurement that will impact the development of future algorithms.