Etanercept.
BACKGROUND
In some patients with psoriasis the inflammatory process fueling skin lesions also afflicts their joints in a condition called psoriatic arthritis. TNF-alpha has been shown to play a central role in the pathogenesis of both cutaneous and joint disease. Etanercept is a soluble fusion protein that binds TNF-alpha, rendering the molecule inactive and making etanercept an effective, targeted therapeutic option for many TNF-mediated inflammatory diseases.


OBJECTIVE
To review the key clinical trials which evaluated efficacy of etanercept for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, discuss various off-label uses for this therapeutic agent and describe the adverse events associated with its use.


METHODS
A search of Medline for relevant articles on etanercept and psoriasis.


CONCLUSIONS
Etanercept has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of skin and joint manifestations of psoriatic disease, thus gaining FDA approval for use in both. A growing number of off-label dermatological uses for etanercept have been proposed, with variable success reported in individual cases or small series. Since its introduction little over a decade ago, etanercept has maintained a favorable safety profile.
Ducharme
Erin
E
St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Department of Dermatology, 1090 Amsterdam Avenue, Suite 11D, New York, NY 10025, USA.
Weinberg
Jeffrey M
JM
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004348:Drug Labeling; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept