Apremilast for the treatment of juvenile psoriatic arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis (a condition that causes pain and inflammation in a joint) associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes flaky patches of skin which form scales. When this occurs in children it is referred to as juvenile psoriatic arthritis. Symptoms of juvenile psoriatic arthritis can include swelling of joints; swelling of fingers and toes; arthritis of the lower back and spine; inflammation of the eyes; morning stiffness; back pain or stiffness; pitting or peeling of the nails; red nail beds or cuticles. Juvenile psoriatic arthritis is a form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. A few treatments are recommended for this wider indication, but options specifically for juvenile psoriatic arthritis are not recommended in children despite several treatments available for psoriatic arthritis in adults. Therefore, there is an unmet need for specific treatment options for children with juvenile psoriatic arthritis.