Paradoxical worsening of psoriasis when switching from etanercept to adalimumab: a case series.
BACKGROUND
Etanercept and adalimumab are the most widely used biologic agents for psoriasis today. Large phase III trials have elucidated the much higher efficacy of adalimumab over etanercept; however, no head-to-head comparison data exist for these two medications.


OBJECTIVE
We report four cases of patients well controlled with Enbrel who flared when switched to adalimumab. In all four cases, the patient's psoriasis improved when switched back to etanercept.


CONCLUSIONS
This brief report is intended to alert clinicians of the possibility that, despite the well-known average efficacy advantage of adalimumab over etanercept, some psoriasis patients experience better clinical outcome with etanercept than adalimumab. Therefore, despite the general efficacy difference between these two TNF inhibitors, it may be worth keeping in mind etanercept as an option in patients who have failed with adalimumab.
University of California, San Francisco, Psoriasis and Skin Treatment Center, San Francisco, California 94118, USA. tinabhutanimd@gmail.com
Tina
T
Bhutani
John
J
Koo
D000068879:Adalimumab; D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018450:Disease Progression; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068800:Etanercept