Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) 2008

Abstract

The Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis (GRAPPA) is an international group dedicated to improving the lives of patients suffering from psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). At the 2008 annual meeting of GRAPPA in Leeds, United Kingdom, members reviewed the status of imaging, including a new ultrasound measure, ultra-short echo time (UTE), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in PsA and the imaging of musculoskeletal tissues in psoriasis; discussed the value and current status of composite measures for the assessment of PsA, including a breakout session where members addressed several issues related to developing PsA-specific composite measures; and reviewed biomarker development in psoriatic disease, including an interactive section on design considerations for a longitudinal study of biomarkers for joint damage. Summaries of those discussions are presented in this supplement.