Is there a role for tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors and especially thalidomide in dermatology?
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.
Moschella
Samuel L
SL
Department of Dermatology, Lahey Clinic, 41 Mall Road, Burlington, MA 01805. samuel.l.moschella@lahey.org
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*
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