Infliximab monotherapy provides rapid and sustained benefit for plaque-type psoriasis.
BACKGROUND
Effective, rapid-acting, safe therapies are needed for the long-term treatment of psoriasis.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to evaluate infliximab monotherapy in maintaining clinical benefit in psoriasis.


METHODS
A total of 33 patients received 3 doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg of infliximab or placebo at weeks 0, 2, and 6 (double-blind phase). During the open-label phase (weeks 10-26), responding patients were evaluated for relapse (loss of at least half of the improvement in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index score at week 10) and retreated with open-label infliximab (5 or 10 mg/kg) as needed. Placebo nonresponders were treated with an induction regimen of infliximab (5 or 10 mg/kg) and followed up through week 26.


RESULTS
In all, 29 patients received either 5 or 10 mg/kg of infliximab in the open-label extension. At week 26, psoriasis area severity index response was maintained in 40% and 73% of patients receiving 5 and 10 mg/kg of infliximab, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab produced a rapid, effective, and sustainable (through week 26) effect in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.
Gottlieb
Alice B
AB
Clinical Research Center, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-The Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-0019, USA. gottliab@umdnj.edu
Chaudhari
Umesh
U
Mulcahy
Lisa D
LD
Li
Shu
S
Dooley
Lisa T
LT
Baker
Daniel G
DG
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab