[Treatment of severe refractory psoriasis with infliximab].
OBJECTIVE
Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds to tumor necrosis factor alpha and blocks the inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of infliximab in patients with severe and refractory psoriasis.


METHODS
Eleven patients with severe and refractory psoriasis were included in an open-label clinical trial. Patients received infliximab 5 mg/kg intravenously at weeks 0, 2, 6 and every 8 weeks. Psoriasis Assessment and Severity Index (PASI) and BSA (Body Surface Assessment) were used to monitor disease activity with each dose. Results at weeks 6 and 30 are shown.


RESULTS
90% of patients improved their PASI and BSA basal scores early at sixth week, achieving 63.6% (PASI75) and 72.7% (BSA50). This improvement was maintained until the 30th week (54.5% and 72.7%, respectively). Infliximab was well tolerated and there was no significant adverse reaction.


CONCLUSIONS
Infliximab seems an effective therapy for severe and refractory psoriasis.
Mahiques Santos
Laura
L
Servicio de Dermatología y Venereología, Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain. laura_mahiques@aedv.es
Martínez-Menchón
Teresa
T
Sánchez Carazo
José Luis
JL
Oliver Martínez
Vicente
V
Soriano Navarro
Carlos Joaquín
CJ
Fortea Baixauli
José Miguel
JM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab