FAQ: How Do You Interpret cDAPSA/DAPSA and MDA?

Join Katie Springer, PA-C, a rheumatology specialist at Northwestern Medicine in Lake Forest, Illinois, as she dives into critical tools for measuring disease activity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and how they shape treatment strategies for improved patient outcomes.

Accurate assessment of PsA requires disease-specific tools beyond traditional rheumatoid arthritis (RA) measures. The Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) score evaluates joint inflammation using tender and swollen joint counts, CRP levels, and patient-reported assessments. The clinical DAPSA (cDAPSA), an alternative version, removes CRP from the calculation, offering another method to track disease progression.

For a comprehensive view of PsA’s impact, the Minimal Disease Activity (MDA) index goes beyond joint symptoms, assessing enthesitis, skin involvement, pain, function, and patient-reported outcomes. Achieving MDA is a key goal in treat-to-target strategies, guiding adjustments in therapy to improve long-term patient health.

Clinical trials and real-world evidence highlight guselkumab’s efficacy in PsA treatment. The DISCOVER-2 trial found that 25% of biologic-naïve PsA patients on guselkumab achieved MDA by week 24, increasing to 40% over two years. Additionally, real-world registry data from CorEvitas showed that 80% of patients remained on guselkumab at six months, with one in four achieving low disease activity—reinforcing the effectiveness seen in clinical trials.

Understanding and utilizing these PsA-specific disease activity measures helps rheumatology providers make informed treatment decisions and ensure sustained improvements in patient care.

For more expert insights into rheumatology advancements, visit RhAPP.org or explore the RhAPP ACE App.