Update information

August 2010: This guidance replaces NICE technology appraisal guidance 104 issued in July 2006 and NICE technology appraisal guidance 125 issued in August 2007.

NICE reviews each piece of guidance it issues. This review and re-appraisal has resulted in an extension to the guidance:

Etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab are all recommended for the treatment of active and progressive psoriatic arthritis, based on specific criteria. Treatment choice should be started with the least expensive drug (taking into account drug administration costs, required dose and product price per dose).

The guidance recommends that treatment should be discontinued if people's disease does not show an adequate response on the Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC) at 12 weeks. Healthcare professionals should also consider continuing treatment if people's skin disease has a Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75 response at 12 weeks in the absence of an adequate PsARC response. This assessment should be done by a dermatologist to determine whether continued treatment is appropriate on the basis of the skin response alone.

ISBN: 978-1-4731-3981-7