Diagnosis of peripheral psoriatic arthritis: Recommendations for clinical practice based on data from the literature and experts opinion

Objective: To propose French recommendations for the clinical, biological and radiological diagnosis of peripheral psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in daily practice based on data from the literature and expert opinion. Method: The strategy was the following: the choice of four questions, concerning this topic by the scientific committee according to the Delphi method, forming the basis of the recommendations. The Systematic literature research based on Medline, Cochrane and abstracts from the annual meetings of the French society of rheumatology (SFR), American college of rheumatology (ACR) and European ligue against rheumatism (EULAR). An experts committee of rheumatologists elaborated, validated specifying the strength and the degree of agreement of each recommendation. Results: The questions selected were: (1) What clinical data should be collected to assist in the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis? (2) What laboratory tests, immunological tests, and genetic tests should be performed to assist in the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis? (3) What are the radiological investigations useful in the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis? (4) What classification and/or diagnosis criteria can assist in the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis? A literature search identified 1627 abstracts and 33 articles were included and analyzed. Four recommendations relative to the diagnosis were drafted and validated by a final vote of the experts committee. Conclusion: Recommendations concerning the diagnosis of PsA for daily practice were developed and validated on the basis of data from the literature and expert opinion. They should help to establish the diagnosis of PsA in daily practice. (C) 2009 Societe francaise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.