How routine use of a treat to target approach in PsA might impact on clinical decision making

In recent years there has been increasing research focusing on the assessment of disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). PsA has been recognised as a potentially destructive and disabling arthritis and many observational studies have supported a link between inflammation and subsequent joint damage. The Tight Control of PsA (TICOPA) trial subsequently showed that treating to target, using the minimal disease activity (MDA) criteria improved arthritis, skin, functional and quality of life outcomes. In 2015, as a result of this study, the updated EULAR recommendations for the management of PsA stated that “Treatment should be aimed at reaching the target of remission or, alternatively, minimal/low disease activity, by regular monitoring and appropriate adjustment of therapy”. However this has not been widely implemented in clinical practice as yet, highlighting a delay in translating best practice from clinical trials to real-life clinical practice