title: Biologic therapy (TNF-alpha antagonists)-induced psoriasis: a cytokine imbalance between TNF-alpha and IFN-alpha?
abstract: We report 3 patients with psoriatic arthritis and 2 with rheumatoid arthritis who developed worsening, and/or de novo psoriasis, and/or psoriasiform rash, while on tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy. All 5 patients initially presented with active skin, and/or joint inflammatory involvement, and exhibited significant clinical response to tumor necrosis factor antagonist therapy. Within approximately 6 months, however, psoriatic and/or psoriasiform rash developed de novo in 2 rheumatoid arthritis patient and exacerbated in the other 3 patients. Biopsy findings revealed histologic and immunohistochemical changes indistinguishable from psoriasis.Psoriatic rash improved after discontinuation of biologic therapy and/or initiation of a short course of oral prednisone. One patient with psoriatic arthritis was rechallenged with infliximab due to exacerbation of both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, and this was followed by prompt improvement of both conditions. At 6 months follow-up, this patient remains under excellent control. To date, there have been over 50 cases of this type of dermatologic complication described. Interferon alpha seems to play an important role in the pathogenesis of this complication. This type of complication has been described with all 3 available tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, and most patients improve after discontinuation of biologic therapy.
authors.affiliation: Section of Rheumatology, Departments of Internal Medicine and Pathology, LSU Health Sciences Center at New Orleans, New Orleans, LA 70115, USA. rcucha@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cuchacovich
authors.forename: Carmen G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Zia
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Virk
authors.forename: Luis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Espinoza
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy; D001706:Biopsy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology; D012867:Skin / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab