title: Anti-TNF-alpha agents in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.
abstract: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a potentially debilitating disease that may affect small and large peripheral joints, entheses and the axial skeleton. The different clinical manifestations of PsA have been accounted for by various proposals of subdividing the patients into different subgroups. According to the predominant clinical symptoms, most patients can be classified as belonging to the spectrum of spondyloarthritides (SpA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The conventional therapeutic approach comprises non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, systemic and intra-articular corticosteroids, and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs such as sulfasalazine, methotrexate, ciclosporin and leflunomide. Similar to RA, recent trials in PsA have shown excellent results with the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) blockers etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab, which have positive effects not only on joints, but also on the skin when affected by psoriasis, quality of life, function and slowing of disease progress, as evidenced radiologically. Anti-TNF therapy has been generally safe in clinical trials of PsA. Taken together, there has been definite recent progress in the treatment of PsA, especially for severely affected patients.
authors.affiliation: Rheumazentrum Ruhrgebiet, Landgrafenstr. 15, 44652 Herne, Germany. brandt@rheumazentrum-ruhrgebiet.de
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brandt
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000628:therapy*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007249:Inflammation; D000069285:Infliximab; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C439524:TNF protein, human; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept