Journal of Rheumatology. Supplement

The development and updating of treatment recommendations for optimal treatment approaches for patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has been an important mission of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and PsA (GRAPPA) since its inception. Even though the most recent iteration of the GRAPPA PsA recommendations was completed only a few years ago, there have been many significant advances related to therapies and treatment approaches for PsA since their publication. Because of these advances, the process to update the recommendations again has begun...

The International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM) initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing clinical care and research in dermatology by developing evidence-based, patient-centered outcome measures. At the 2019 annual meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), the IDEOM psoriasis working group presented an overview of its selected deliverables and discussed its efforts to agree on meaningful, valid, and feasible outcome measures for quality measurement in psoriasis...

Methotrexate (MTX) is the most commonly prescribed first-line therapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) internationally and is also commonly used in the treatment of psoriasis. However, data supporting its use in PsA are limited and significant toxicities can occur. This article summarizes a debate at the 2019 Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) annual meeting that focused on the use of MTX in psoriasis and PsA. Four clinicians and 1 patient research partner presented clinical study data and the patient experience summarizing the efficacy, tolerability, and toxicity of MTX for both skin and musculoskeletal manifestations...

At the 2019 Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis-Collaborative Research Network annual meeting, the group presented its progress in selecting a database platform; items to include in an electronic case report form (eCRF); and standardized operating procedures (SOP) for the collection, processing, storage, and transport of biomaterial. A pilot investigator-initiated study was also proposed that, in addition to addressing an area of unmet need, would allow for the testing of both the eCRF and SOP...

Current management approaches for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are imprecise and depend largely on clinical assessment. A more precise approach, which takes into account an individual patient's variations in genes, proteins, environment, and lifestyle, is beginning to receive attention with the most advanced progress seen in the treatment of cancer. Herein, the methodological approaches required for this precision medicine approach to be adopted in psoriatic disease, as well as their advantages, are reviewed...

OBJECTIVE: Improving the assessment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a key purpose of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and PsA (GRAPPA). Herein, we report the proceedings of the GRAPPA composites workshop at the 2019 GRAPPA annual meeting and the membership's recommended next steps. METHODS: A review of continuous composite measures was conducted in an introductory workshop, followed by 10 breakout group sessions and a final plenary session for feedback and voting...

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) held a trainees symposium at its 2019 annual meeting in Paris, France. Rheumatology and dermatology trainees engaged in psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis research presented their work. This report briefly reviews 5 oral presentations and 19 posters presented at the meeting.

The 2019 Annual Meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) was held in Paris, France, and was attended by rheumatologists, dermatologists, representatives of biopharmaceutical companies, and patients. As in previous years, GRAPPA members held a symposium for trainees to discuss their research in psoriatic disease with experts in the field. Other subjects featured during the annual meeting included a composites workshop to review continuous composite measures; the GRAPPA-Collaborative Research Network's third annual meeting; the need for a precision medicine approach to the treatment of psoriatic disease; updates from working groups in International Dermatology Outcome Measures and Outcome Measures in Rheumatology; a debate on the effectiveness of methotrexate in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA); updating recommendations for optimal treatment approaches for patients with PsA; an update on GRAPPA's research and educational projects; and the GRAPPA ultrasound (US) working group's goal to optimize the evaluation of enthesitis in patients with PsA using US through the development of a diagnostic US enthesitis tool...

At the 2018 annual meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), members received updates on several ongoing efforts. Among them were updates on GRAPPA's patient research partners; educational initiatives; research efforts, including the trainee symposium, pilot research grants, and Collaborative Research Network; treatment recommendations; and additional efforts related to advancing the understanding of disease aspects.

Enthesitis is a key feature in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and may be the initial site of musculoskeletal inflammation in patients with PsA. Ultrasound (US) could improve the accuracy of clinical enthesitis assessment, but at present no consensus exists on a global sonographic enthesitis scoring method that can evaluate the extent of enthesitis at the patient level. The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) US Working Group has set up a goal to optimize the evaluation of enthesitis in patients with PsA using US through the development and validation of new instruments using a combined data-driven and expert opinion-driven approach...

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory arthritis that manifests in 20-30% of patients diagnosed with psoriasis. Epidemiologic studies suggest a substantial genetic contribution to PsA. There is a strong need for genome-wide association studies on patients with PsA, including PsA-weighted or specific variants, and a need for a better understanding of the relevance of HLA alleles in disease expression. Interferon signaling and the nuclear factor-κB cascade are involved in PsA, and there are genetic differences between purely cutaneous psoriasis (PsC) and PsA...

OBJECTIVE: In 2016, members of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), in collaboration with KPMG LLP (UK), conducted a study to measure care in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). A key finding was that centers do not usually have processes in place to measure the effect of improved quality of care. Our objectives were to identify and select best-practice indicators to enable PsA caregivers to assess and monitor the outcomes of specific initiatives aimed at improving care in 4 focus areas: (1) shortening time to diagnosis; (2) improving multidisciplinary collaboration; (3) optimizing disease management; and (4) improving disease monitoring...

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA)-Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) Working Group reported at the 2018 GRAPPA annual meeting on the outcome of the OMERACT 2018 Conference in Terrigal, Australia. The working group presented the endorsement of the 66/68 joint count for the assessment of peripheral arthritis and the provisional endorsement of the PsA Impact of Disease 12 questionnaire for the assessment of PsA-specific health-related quality of life in PsA randomized controlled trials and observational studies...

At the 2018 annual meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA), the International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM) Psoriasis Working Group presented an overview of its efforts to enhance clinical care and research in both the clinical setting as well as in clinical trials for psoriasis. First, the group discussed the results of a Delphi survey conducted in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology to agree on a unique physician-reported global assessment to measure the quality of care delivered to patients with psoriasis and other chronic inflammatory dermatoses...

Patients with psoriatic disease have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular (CV) events. Recent advances in imaging and biomarker research provide insights into the underlying mechanisms that link these conditions. Here, we summarize recent work in this field that was presented at the July 2018 Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) annual meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The presentations highlighted recent data about the association between psoriasis and vascular inflammation, the use of coronary angiogram to investigate CV outcomes, new approaches for CV risk stratification, and the shared pathomechanisms of psoriasis and atherosclerosis...

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA)-Collaborative Research Network (CRN) intends to launch and secure funding for 3 pilot projects related to psoriatic disease, psoriatic arthritis (PsA), and cutaneous psoriasis (PsC). The first pilot project, a PsA Biomarkers for Joint Damage (BioDAM) pilot, will seek to determine the independent predictive ability of serum biomarkers for joint damage in PsA. The second pilot project will aim to identify predictors of the development of PsA among patients with PsC...

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) held a trainee symposium at its 2018 annual meeting in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Rheumatology and dermatology trainees engaged in psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis research presented their work. This report briefly reviews 5 oral presentations and 21 posters presented at the meeting.

The 2018 Annual Meeting of the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) was held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and was attended by rheumatologists, dermatologists, and representatives of biopharmaceutical companies and patients. As in previous years, GRAPPA members held a symposium for trainees to discuss their research in psoriatic disease with experts in the field. Other subjects featured during the annual meeting included GRAPPA-Collaborative Research Network's second annual meeting; the association between psoriatic disease and cardiovascular events; updates from working groups in International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM) and Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT); a 2016 study that benchmarked care in psoriatic arthritis (PsA); the genetic contribution to PsA and strong need for genome-wide association studies on patients with PsA; the GRAPPA Ultrasound Working Group's goal to optimize the evaluation of enthesitis in patients with PsA using ultrasound through the development and validation of new instruments; and an update on GRAPPA's research and educational projects...

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) Collaborative Research Network (CRN) is an endeavor that aims to address gaps in the knowledge of the etiopathogenesis and management of psoriatic disease by best using the large community of experienced investigators who are already collecting rich clinical phenotype data and biologic samples using validated techniques. Exemplar rheumatology and dermatology projects will inform strategies to implement the CRN, while input and funding from government organizations, charities, and industry will shape the CRN...

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) has reached the third of 5 stages of organizational maturity regarding incorporating patient research partners (PRP) into psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis research and educational efforts. Herein, we report the involvement of PRP at the GRAPPA 2017 annual meeting and plans for future PRP engagement.