Clinical response in psoriasis patients discontinued from and then reinitiated on etanercept therapy.
BACKGROUND
Although continuous therapy with the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonist, etanercept, has been shown to have a favorable benefit to risk profile in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, it is recognized that patients and practioners may wish for intermittent treatment should life circumstances dictate.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate safety and effect maintenance of etanercept retreatment in psoriasis.


METHODS
Results of a 24-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study were previously reported. Patients who responded at week 24 (improved ?50% in psoriasis area and severity index [PASI]) discontinued etanercept until disease relapse (loss of ?50% of week 24 PASI improvement). Patients were retreated with blinded etanercept at the originally randomized dose: 25 mg or 50 mg twice weekly (BIW) or 25 mg once weekly; original placebo patients received 25 mg BIW for the final 12 weeks of the double-blind period and were retreated with etanercept 25 mg BIW.


RESULTS
Psoriasis returned gradually, without untoward events, within, on average, 3 months after etanercept discontinuation. Results after 12 weeks of retreatment were similar to those achieved after the initial 12 weeks. The major limitation of this study is that it examines only one round of discontinuation/retreatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Retreatment with etanercept was effective and well tolerated in psoriasis patients.
Gordon
Kenneth B
KB
Loyola University, Maywood, IL, USA. kennethbgordon@gmail.com
Gottlieb
Alice B
AB
Leonardi
Craig L
CL
Elewski
Boni E
BE
Wang
Andrea
A
Jahreis
Angelika
A
Zitnik
Ralph
R
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D019233:Retreatment; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D028761:Withholding Treatment
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept