title: [Treatment of severe refractory psoriasis with infliximab].
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatología y Venereología, Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain. laura_mahiques@aedv.es
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mahiques Santos
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Martínez-Menchón
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Sánchez Carazo
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Oliver Martínez
authors.forename: Carlos Joaquín
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Soriano Navarro
authors.forename: José Miguel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fortea Baixauli
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab