title: Is there a role for tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors and especially thalidomide in dermatology?
abstract: Because of the relative shortcomings and their side effects of the available anti-inflammatory drugs such as systemic nonsteroids, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive drugs, and since tumor necrosis factor-a plays a major role in noninfectious inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, tumor necrosis factor-a inhibitory drugs and the available tumor necrosis factor-a inhibitory biologic modifying reagents are described. Among the drugs reviewed are pentoxifylline, thalidomide, etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab. Their relative effectiveness and side effects are reported and recommendations are made.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805. samuel.l.moschella@lahey.org
authors.forename: Samuel L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Moschella
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D010431:Pentoxifylline / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013792:Thalidomide; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept; D010431:Pentoxifylline