Literature on Psoriatic Arthritis

Related ArticlesEtanercept: long-term clinical experience in rheumatoid arthritis and other arthritis.

Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007 Jun;8(9):1373-97

Authors: Cobo-Ibáñez T, Martín-Mola E

Etanercept is a dimeric fusion protein based on the p75 TNF-alpha receptor. It binds to TNF-alpha and blocks its biologic activity. In randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials, etanercept has therapeutic activity in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Etanercept improves joint inflammation, physical function and slows/halts structural damage, especially when combined with methotrexate. A sustained response is observed in a substantial percentage of patients. Although some safety issues should be considered before starting etanercept treatment, in general terms, etanercept is a well tolerated drug with an acceptable safety profile. The use of any TNF-alpha antagonist must be in agreement with the National Recommendations for Biologic Therapy, and in difficult clinical situations, a balance between risk/benefit needs to be obtained.

PMID: 17563271 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Related ArticlesEffective etanercept treatment for psoriatic arthritis complicating concomitant human immunodeficiency virus and hepatitis C virus infection.

J Rheumatol. 2007 Jun;34(6):1353-5

Authors: Linardaki G, Katsarou O, Ioannidou P, Karafoulidou A, Boki K

High levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and all stages of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. TNF-alpha may have a role in both the pathogenesis and the response to treatment of these chronic viral diseases. We describe a 42-year-old HIV/HCV coinfected hemophiliac man who developed psoriasis and severe psoriatic arthritis not responding to combination treatment with methotrexate and cyclosporin A. Treatment with etanercept 25 mg twice weekly was followed by remission of the joint inflammation and improvement of the exanthem. This is the first report of anti-TNF-alpha treatment for rheumatic complications in a patient with both HIV and HCV infection.

PMID: 17552060 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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