title: [Biologic therapy: a new and promising option to treat psoriasis].
abstract: The histologic and immunologic findings on psoriasis have led to the development of biologic therapies for its treatment. Biologic therapies are classified according to their structure as recombinant human proteins, monoclonal antibodies, and fusion proteins. Currently there are five biological drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of psoriasis; however research studies are being performed to implement a few others. It is important to be familiarized with biological drugs, understand their mechanisms of action, and their adverse effects in order to be able to provide patients the most adequate therapeutical alternative. Advances in biotechnology provide new strategies that act on the immune system. The clinical experience using biological therapies in dermatology is relatively limited and there is a need to define which patients are candidates to receive these drugs. The combination of biologic treatments with traditional drugs needs further research since this could enhance their benefits, limit their toxicity, and reduce costs.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Dermatologia, Hospital Universitario, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León Monterrey, Nuevo León. nelly.espinoza@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nelly Alejandra
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Espinoza-González
authors.forename: Maira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Herz-Ruelas
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ocampo-Candiani
authors.forename: Remigio
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: González-Soto
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D001691:Biological Therapy; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000069285:Infliximab; D000077944:Alefacept; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept; C472181:efalizumab