title: From biologic to biologic to biologic: lessons to learn for erythrodermic and recalcitrant chronic plaque psoriasis.
abstract: Differences in mode of action between biologic agents could explain why one agent is more efficacious than another in the treatment of recalcitrant and erythrodermic flares of chronic plaque psoriasis. Here, we present our experience using a case series of three patients with chronic plaque psoriasis who showed consistent and similar responses to three different biologic agents. All three patients who were refractory to efalizumab developed erythrodermic flares 2-12 weeks after a direct switch to etanercept. Switching from efalizumab to etanercept could provoke paradoxical flaring of psoriasis, which might be prevented by transitioning to systemic agents. The erythrodermic flares in all three patients responded dramatically to infliximab with marked and maintained improvements in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index scores.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, and The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia. leonaywy@yahoo.co.nz
authors.forename: Leona
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Foley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069285:Infliximab; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000145:classification* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068800:Etanercept; C472181:efalizumab