The actual role of therapy with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in psoriatic arthritis.

Although several reviews and metaanalyses have shown lack of evidence of efficacy of traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), these drugs are very often used and are recommended by treatment guidelines around the world as first-line therapy for most patients with PsA. Some new investigations showed that higher doses of methotrexate (MTX) are more beneficial for patients with PsA with peripheral involvement. Also, observational studies have shown that retention of MTX for patients with PsA is comparable to that of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and that with MTX, remission is achievable by around 20% of patients with PsA. Sulfasalazine, leflunomide, and cyclosporine have also been shown to be effective in a small number of patients, although the overall effect on disease activity for these drugs is small. Although combination of anti-tumor necrosis factor agents with traditional DMARD is not mandatory in PsA as it is in RA, there is evidence that some extra benefit might be achieved when combinations are used, not only for the joints but for the skin. There is still room for the use of traditional DMARD in PsA, and for the time being, DMARD should still be considered as first-line therapy for most patients with PsA.