Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
Microbial signatures in psoriatic arthritis distinguish disease phenotypes and newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease independent of faecal calprotectin
Authors' conclusion
Our results identify a distinct microbiome and immune profile in axial PsA, with lower microbiome diversity, a depletion of commensals and protective microbial mechanisms, and higher levels of some proinflammatory cytokines. In patients with newly diagnosed IBD, we identified microbial taxa associated with the condition yet independent of fCAL, the current clinical standard.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with axial or peripheral psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and no prior diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) enrolled in the EISER study
- Participants
- 192 patients
- Exposure
- Axial PsA vs peripheral PsA; newly diagnosed IBD vs non-IBD
- IBDn = 5
- Outcome
- Gut microbiome and cytokine profile, axial vs peripheral PsA
Methodological detailsshotgun metagenomics, serum cytokine profiling
- Shotgun metagenomics
- Serum cytokine profiling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Axial PsA had lower alpha diversity and loss of several commensals compared with peripheral PsA
- Axial PsA: depletion of microbial biotin and arginine metabolism
- Axial PsA: higher levels of IL-23, IL-17F and IL-8
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Newly diagnosed IBD vs non-IBD
- IBD characterised by a depletion of tryptophan and vitamin B6 metabolism
- Significant enrichment of several taxa vs non-IBD, with a larger effect size than faecal calprotectin (fCAL)
Original publication
Microbial signatures in psoriatic arthritis distinguish disease phenotypes and newly diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease independent of faecal calprotectin. Ann Rheum Dis. Published 28 February 2026. doi:10.
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