Disease Interception and Addressing Unmet Needs in PsA

In this episode, the panelists explore the concept of disease interception and how early intervention may address unmet needs in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). The experts discuss emerging evidence suggesting that PsA can be reframed as a preventable disease when treated before clinical joint symptoms appear. They note that subclinical inflammation, detectable through imaging such as Doppler ultrasound or MRI, often exists in patients with psoriasis, particularly at the entheses. This early immune activation highlights the potential to intervene upstream by targeting shared cytokine pathways, such as IL-23 and IL-17. The panel emphasizes that dermatologists, often the first point of contact, play a pivotal role in identifying high-risk patients—those with scalp or nail involvement—and considering systemic therapy even in the absence of joint symptoms. Current biologic treatments that address both skin and joint inflammation may help modify disease progression and prevent irreversible PsA-related damage.