title: Biologic therapies for psoriasis. A systematic review.
abstract: Alefacept, efalizumab, etanercept, and infliximab are currently approved for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, and phase 3 trials for adalimumab are ongoing. The high level of evidence from large randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical studies for each of these biologics allows high-grade recommendations and helps define uncertainties, one of which is longterm safety. For tumor necrosis factor-a blocking agents, safety profiles are available from clinical experience in other indications. In general, biologics are safe and effective in the treatment of psoriasis, with potential to address unmet medical needs. Their distinct profiles allow dermatologists to match the biologic agent to individual characteristics of patients who are candidates for systemic therapy or phototherapy. In this evidence-based review of the literature, we assess the effects on psoriasis of induction therapy with 5 biologics and provide preliminary treatment guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Boehncke@em.uni-frankfurt.de
authors.forename: Wolf-Henning
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Boehncke
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prinz
authors.forename: Alice B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001688:Biological Products; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000069285:Infliximab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept; C472181:efalizumab