Treatment-related changes in serum neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) in psoriatic arthritis: results from the PIPA cohort study

ObjectivesObesity and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) have a complicated relationship. While weight alone does not cause PsA, it is suspected to cause worse symptoms. Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) is secreted through various cell types. Our objective was to assess the changes and trajectories in serum NGAL and clinical outcomes in patients with PsA during 12 months of anti-inflammatory treatment.MethodThis exploratory prospective cohort study enrolled PsA patients initiating conventional synthetic or biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs/bDMARDs). Clinical, biomarker, and patient-reported outcome measures were retrieved at baseline, and 4 and 12 months. Control groups at baseline were psoriasis (PsO) patients and apparently healthy controls. The serum NGAL concentration was quantified by a high-performance singleplex immunoassay.ResultsIn total, 117 PsA patients started a csDMARD or bDMARD, and were compared indirectly at baseline with a cross-sectional sample of 20 PsO patients and 20 healthy controls. The trajectory in NGAL related to anti-inflammatory treatment for all included PsA patients showed an overall change of -11% from baseline to 12 months. Trajectories in NGAL for patients with PsA, divided into treatment groups, showed no clear trend in clinically significant decrease or increase following anti-inflammatory treatment. NGAL concentrations in the PsA group at baseline corresponded to the levels in the control groups. No correlation was found between changes in NGAL and changes in PsA outcomes.ConclusionBased on these results, serum NGAL does not add any value as a biomarker in patients with peripheral PsA, either for disease activity or for monitoring.

Automated summary

The study aimed to assess the changes and trajectories in serum NGAL during 12 months of anti-inflammatory treatment in PsA patients. The results showed that serum NGAL did not show significant changes or correlations with PsA outcomes, indicating that it is not a suitable biomarker for disease activity and monitoring.