Treatment of psoriatic arthritis with antitumour necrosis factor-alpha antibody clears skin lesions of psoriasis resistant to treatment with methotrexate.
BACKGROUND
In inflamed skin, keratinocytes and inflammatory cells both produce large amounts of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) -alpha, a cytokine with broad effects that are relevant to inflammation. Blockade of this proinflammatory cytokine by a monoclonal anti-TNF-alpha antibody might be effectively used in the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To gather information about the efficacy of an anti-TNF-alpha antibody (infliximab) in the treatment of skin lesions of psoriatic arthritis.


METHODS
Six patients with progressive joint disease and psoriatic skin lesions unresponsive to methotrexate therapy were treated with anti-TNF-alpha antibody. The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index was determined before and 10 weeks after initiation of therapy.


RESULTS
Improvement of psoriatic skin lesions was observed in all patients. In addition, a marked improvement of the joint disease was noted.


CONCLUSIONS
Therapy with anti-TNF-alpha antibody may be an effective treatment regimen for both psoriatic arthritis and psoriatic skin lesions.
Departments of Dermatology and Medicine III, University of Erlangen, Hartmannstr. 14, D-91052 Erlangen, Germany.
A L
AL
Ogilvie
C
C
Antoni
C
C
Dechant
B
B
Manger
J R
JR
Kalden
G
G
Schuler
M
M
Lüftl
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000628:therapy; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004351:Drug Resistance; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D008727:Methotrexate