SCIENTIFIC
Rapid Resolution of Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms Following Initiation of a GLP-1 Receptor Agonist
AUTHORS:
ABSTRACT
Kate Gelman, BSE 1 Joseph E. Capito, MD 2
AFFILIATIONS:
1
West Virginia University School of Medicine
2
Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University School of Medicine
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Joseph E. Capito, MD jcapito2 @ hsc. wvu. edu
DISCLOSURES: None
ETHICS STATEMENT:
Permission from the patient has been obtained.
FUNDING: None
A 54-year-old woman with a history of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM), and multiple cardiovascular comorbidities, including cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, and a prior coronary artery bypass graft, was prescribed the glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonist( GLP-1 RA) semaglutide by her primary care physician to enhance glycemic control and promote weight loss. Her extensive cardiac history made her a particularly suitable candidate for this class of medications given their established cardioprotective properties. 1
Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists( GLP-1 RAs) are widely used for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus( T2DM) and obesity, with growing evidence of their anti-inflammatory effects. We report the case of a 54-year-old woman with obesity, T2DM, and biopsy-confirmed plaque psoriasis who developed joint pain and stiffness consistent with psoriatic arthritis( PsA). Her symptoms persisted despite appropriate trials of topical corticosteroids, calcipotriene, and oral apremilast. She also declined methotrexate due to concerns about side effects. Imaging of her hands revealed distal interphalangeal joint space narrowing, marginal erosions, and
Concurrent with her metabolic conditions, the patient had also been struggling with plaque psoriasis for several years. She was evaluated by dermatology at 51 years of age, when the diagnosis was confirmed both clinically and histologically. Her dermatologist described the plaques as moderate in severity, with thick scale and erythema involving the dorsal hands, left elbow, and postauricular region bilaterally, covering a total body surface area of 5 %. A skin biopsy demonstrated psoriasiform epidermal hyperplasia with parakeratosis and a superficial perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate, consistent with psoriasis vulgaris. Her symptoms persisted despite appropriate trials of topical clobetasol 0.05 %, calcipotriene 0.005 %, and oral apremilast at 30 mg twice daily.
FIGURE 1
periosteal reaction, supporting the diagnosis of PsA. The patient was initiated on semaglutide( 0.25 mg weekly) to address metabolic comorbidities. Within two weeks, she experienced near-complete resolution of both joint and skin symptoms, sustained over six months along with a 20-pound weight loss and stable glycemic control. This case highlights the potential role of GLP-1 RAs in modulating inflammatory disease activity in PsA, particularly in patients with overlapping metabolic conditions. Further research is warranted to explore their therapeutic value in inflammatory arthropathies.
As her cutaneous symptoms persisted, she began to experience joint pain and stiffness in the hands, which interfered with daily activities and raised concern for inflammatory arthritis. She reported persistent pain and swelling across all finger joints, along with chronic skin splitting on both hands that caused significant discomfort and anxiety about potential infection due to open wounds. The visibility of the lesions led to considerable psychological distress and embarrassment. These worsening symptoms prompted dermatology to refer her
Patient’ s hands demonstrating symptomatic psoriatic arthritis prior to initiation of semaglutide.
West Virginia Medical Journal • March 2026 • 25