Article · Volume 4, Issue 4S · pp. S29–S30

Abatacept in psoriatic arthritis: Case report and short review

Francesco Ursini¹, Saverio Naty¹, Emilio Russo², Rosa Daniela Grembiale¹

¹Rheumatology Research Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, Viale Europa, Catanzaro, Italy.
²Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, Viale Europa, Catanzaro, Italy.

Abstract

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting about 6-10% of patients with cutaneous psoriasis. According to current knowledge, activated T-cells seem to play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of both psoriasis and PsA. Abatacept is a novel biologic agent selectively designed to interfere with T-cells co-stimulation. Structurally, it is a soluble, fully human fusion protein consisting of the extracellular domain of CTLA-4 (Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4) linked to a modified Fc portion of human IgG1. Abatacept is now approved as a first-line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but preliminary data disclose a potential role of abatacept in the treatment of other autoimmune diseases. In this article, we report a case of successful treatment with abatacept of a psoriatic arthritis patients who developed adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to medication commonly used in PsA, including three different anti-TNF-α agents. In addition, we review the scientific evidences supporting a possible role of abatacept in treatment of patients with psoriasis and PsA and the paradox of abatacept-induced psoriasis.

Keywords: Abatacept; psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis

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