Use of etanercept for psoriatic arthritis in the dermatology clinic: the Experience Diagnosing, Understanding Care, and Treatment with Etanercept (EDUCATE) study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the efficacy and tolerability of etanercept to treat psoriatic arthritis.


METHODS
A total of 1,122 patients who had active psoriatic arthritis were enrolled in a Phase 4, non-randomized, open-label, single-arm, 24-week study. These patients had clinically stable, plaque psoriasis involving >or=10% body surface area and joint disease (either >or=two swollen and >or=two tender/painful joints for >or=3 months, or >or=one joint with sacroiliitis or spondylitis). They received etanercept therapy 50 mg subcutaneously once weekly for 24 weeks.


RESULTS
After 24 weeks of treatment, 865 patients (77.1%; 95% CI: 74.64-79.55%) achieved a 'mild or better' score on the physician global assessment of psoriasis and were improved from baseline. Mean improvement in body surface area involvement was 16.9 percentage points (15.89-17.91). Patient global assessment of psoriasis, joint pain, and joint disease scores were improved by means of 2.2 (2.15-2.34), 2.7 (2.53-2.84), and 1.5 (1.39-1.55), respectively. Thirty-five patients (3.1%) experienced at least one serious adverse event. No patient died during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the effectiveness and tolerability of etanercept treatment in patients with psoriatic arthritis being treated at dermatology clinics.
Gottlieb
Alice B
AB
Department of Dermatology, Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA 02111-1533, USA. agottlieb@tufts-nemc.org
Kircik
Leon
L
Eisen
Drore
D
Jackson
J Mark
JM
Boh
Erin E
EE
Strober
Bruce E
BE
Frankel
Ellen
E
Xia
H Amt
HA
Stevens
Seth R
SR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept