Allergies or COVID-19: What Are the Differences?

psoriatic arthritis :: Article Creator

Johnson & Johnson's Tremfya Shows Efficacy In Late-Stage Psoriatic Arthritis Study

Johnson & Johnson JNJ on Friday announced topline results from Phase 3b APEX study of Tremfya (guselkumab) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who are biologic naïve and have had an inadequate response to standard therapies.

The study achieved its primary endpoint (ACR20a) of reducing signs and symptoms and its major secondary endpoint of reducing progression of structural damage as measured by radiographic progression at 24 weeks compared to placebo.

In the Phase 3b APEX study, Tremfya-treated patients also exhibited significantly less progression of structural damage versus patients receiving a placebo at Week 24 as assessed by the PsA modified van der Heijde-Sharp (vdH-S) score, which includes joint space narrowing and erosion subscores.

Also Read: US Judge Rejects Another Johnson & Johnson Attempt To Use Bankruptcy For Talc Cancer Claims

Data were consistent with the well-established safety profile of Tremfya with no new safety signals identified.

APEX is a Phase 3b study with long-term extension data through three years that will further assess the sustained efficacy of Tremfya on inhibition of structural damage in patients with active PsA.

Results from the APEX study are being prepared for presentation at upcoming medical congresses.

Equity research analysts on and off Wall Street typically use earnings growth and fundamental research as a form of valuation and forecasting. But many in trading turn to technical analysis as a way to form predictive models for share price trajectory.

Some investors look to trends to help forecast where they believe a stock could trade at a certain point in the future. Looking at Johnson & Johnson, an investor could make an assessment about a stock's long term prospects using a moving average and trend line. If they believe a stock will remain above the moving average, which many believe is a bullish signal, they can extrapolate that trend into the future using a trend line. For Johnson & Johnson, the 200-day moving average sits at $156.5, according to Benzinga Pro, which is above the current price of $155.82. For more on charts and trend lines, see a description here.

Traders believe that when a stock is above its moving average, it is a generally bullish signal, and when it crosses below, it is a more negative signal. Investors could use trend lines to make an educated guess about where a stock could trade at a later date if conditions remain stable.

Price Action: JNJ stock is down 3.51% at $154.21 at the last check Friday.

High Prevalence Of Degenerative Disc Disease In Young Adults With Psoriatic Arthritis

Recent study results published inThe Journal of Rheumatologyfound that degenerative disc disease (DDD) is common among young adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with key risk factors including older age, male sex, diabetes, and inflammatory back pain.

Researchers in Canada conducted a retrospective cohort study to assess the prevalence of DDD among young adults with PsA, as well as risk factors for its development. Patients who were aged less than 50 years and received spinal radiographs were eligible for inclusion.

The study included 814 patients with PsA, among whom 316 (38.8%) exhibited radiographic evidence of DDD, characterized by intervertebral disc space narrowing, bony spur formation, facet joint arthrosis, and spondylolisthesis. Among the entire cohort, patients were aged an average of 36.4 years, 58.5% were men, and 83% were White. Nearly one-fourth (24.4%) of the cohort had radiographic sacroiliitis and 23.1% of patients reported experiencing back pain at baseline.

While radiographic changes of the spine may be completely asymptomatic, the presence of [inflammatory back pain] does not reliably distinguish between axial PsA and DDD.

Several factors were associated with the development of DDD, based on the results of multivariate Cox regression analyses. These included older age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.08; P <.01), male sex (HR, 1.52; P=.03), diabetes (HR, 2.35; P =.045), and inflammatory back pain (HR, 2.03; P<.01). Additional factors such as employment status (HR, 1.61; P =.05), higher body mass index (HR, 1.02; P =.06), calcaneal spurs (HR, 1.40; P =.09), and targeted disease-modifying antirheumatic drug use (HR, 1.46; P =.05) trended towards significance.

When evaluating the relationship between back pain and radiographic findings, the researchers found that inflammatory back pain was not reliably associated with any specific imaging category. The presence of mechanical back pain was inversely correlated with isolated radiographic axial disease (odds ratio, 0.69; P=.03), but no significant association was observed between inflammatory back pain and radiographic abnormalities.

Study limitations include the retrospective, single-center design, reliance on radiographic imaging, and the absence of data on occupational history and lifestyle factors.

"While radiographic changes of the spine may be completely asymptomatic, the presence of [inflammatory back pain] does not reliably distinguish between axial PsA and DDD," the researchers concluded.

This research was supported by the Krembil Foundation and then Schroeder Arthritis Institute. Some study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.

What Are The Neurological Complications Of Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated condition, and people with PsA may be at a higher risk of developing many neurological conditions.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated condition that affects your joints. If you have PsA, you may be at a greater risk of developing some neurological conditions.

The increased risk may be due to inflammation caused by an autoimmune response to PsA or psoriasis.

Read on to learn more about PsA and the risk of developing some neurological conditions if you have PsA.

Arthritis is an autoimmune condition that causes swollen and painful joints. Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated inflammatory disease that causes thick scaly patches on the skin.

People with PsA are at a higher risk of developing many neurological and other health conditions than the general population. This increased risk is at least partially explained by the increased levels of inflammation caused by psoriasis.

Read on to learn which neurological and other health conditions people with PsA have an elevated risk of developing.

Medical professionals used to think psoriasis was only a skin disorder, but it's now known that it can affect many organ systems, not just the skin.

Elevated levels of inflammation can contribute to the development of neurological complications, such as:

In a 2019 study, researchers found that 26.6% of a group of 64 people with PsA "likely" had neuropathic-like pain, and 21.9% had "possible" neuropathic pain.

Neuropathic pain is often described as shooting, burning, or stabbing. It's caused by damaged nerve fibers that send pain signals to your brain.

Chronic inflammation in people with psoriasis can lead to the release of molecules called prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin I2, which stimulate pain receptors and lead to neuropathic pain.

The risk of developing seizures seems to be higher in people with psoriasis and in people with other autoimmune disorders that cause inflammation than in the general population.

A 2019 literature review highlighted research noting that the odds of having epilepsy were 1.9 times higher in people with psoriasis than in the general population.

Shared risk factors between seizures and psoriasis, such as diabetes, may also contribute to this connection.

In a 2019 follow-up study, researchers found that migraine occurred 1.62 times more frequently in middle-aged male participants with psoriasis than in those without psoriasis. Researchers did not find a significant association in female participants or other age groups.

A 2016 review of four studies found that people with psoriasis develop Parkinson's disease 1.38 times more often than the general population. The increased risk may come from the chronic inflammation of neurons; however, a 2024 research analysis found no association. More research is needed.

A 2019 review of studies that included more than 6 million participants, found a significantly increased risk of schizophrenia in those with psoriasis compared with individuals who did not have psoriasis.

Study authors suggest that the connection might be due to common genetic susceptibility or immune mechanisms between the two conditions. They recommend dermatologists and other healthcare professionals who take care of people with psoriasis may want to be prepared to provide early psychiatric referrals for individuals who have signs and symptoms of psychosis or schizophrenia.

More recently, research has focused on the relationship between the gut microbiome and CNS activity, inflammation, or both.

Research is also ongoing about the microbiome and conditions like psoriasis and schizophrenia. More research is needed about the relationship between these conditions and the microbiome.

More research is needed

The 2024 research analysis examined genome-wide association studies and found no significant association between psoriasis and migraine, Parkinson's disease, or epilepsy.

More research is needed in different populations before any association between psoriasis and these conditions can be determined.

An older review found that the risk of stroke was 22% higher in people with PsA than in the general population.

Psoriasis and PsA are associated with an increased risk of developing many other health conditions, such as:

Back and neck pain

Chronic back or neck pain is a common feature of PsA. Anywhere from 25% to 70% of people with PsA have pain in these areas, reports researchers who conducted a 2020 literature review.

Uveitis and vision problems

Uveitis is inflammation of the middle layer of your eye which consists of your iris, the muscles underneath, and the tissue filled with blood vessels. It can cause eye pain, redness, and vision problems.

A review of literature from 2019 highlights research indicating that 7% to 20% of people with psoriasis have uveitis. It tends to be more common among people who have both psoriasis and PsA.

Infections

Immune dysfunction seems to cause PsA, so the body's ability to fight infection is impaired. Medications that are used to treat PsA are immune suppressants, so they can also lower the body's ability to fight infections.

A person with PsA may experience an infection-triggered flare-up of symptoms due to the body's immune response in fighting the infection.

In a 2021 literature review, researchers highlight older research that indicates people with psoriasis have a 36% higher risk of being hospitalized and a 33% higher risk of death from infection than the general population.

Cardiovascular disease

It's well established that psoriasis and PsA are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Research indicates that people with PsA have a 43% higher risk of cardiovascular disease than the general population.

Researchers suggest it is still unclear if psoriasis may contribute to cardiovascular disease or if having cardiovascular does increase the risk of psoriasis. They suggest the mechanisms of development of both conditions are related.

Diabetes

Digestive disorders

Researchers also found an association between psoriasis and 21 out of 23 other gastrointestinal diseases they examined, including:

Obesity

Experts believe that people with obesity develop PsA more frequently than the general population, as a 2020 narrative review indicates. Decreased movement from PsA joint pain and increased inflammation in people with PsA might increase the chances of developing obesity.

Weight loss has been shown to improve PsA symptoms in people with obesity.

Depression

According to a 2020 research review, psoriasis and depression may amplify each other and share common mechanisms. Increased psoriasis severity tends to increase depression, and increased depression tends to increase psoriasis severity.

Psoriasis was once believed to only be a skin condition, but it's now known that it can affect many parts of your body, such as your joints and nervous system.

Psoriasis and PsA may be associated with an increased risk of neurological conditions such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and migraine.

If you have PsA, it's important to talk with your doctor if you notice any change in your symptoms or if you suspect you're developing an associated condition like uveitis.

With your doctor's help, you can learn to manage many PsA complications and maintain a high quality of life.

Ebola Virus Disease