title: A case of dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa improved with etanercept for concomitant psoriatic arthritis.
abstract: Epidermolysis bullosa is a group of inherited, chronic, non-inflammatory skin disorders, and dystrophic epidermolysis bullosa (DEB) is one of the most severe variants. The role of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) has not been reported in the pathogenesis of DEB. A DEB case is reported that appears to have responded well to the TNFalpha inhibitor etanercept given for the treatment of concomitant psoriatic arthritis. A progressive improvement in DEB was apparent over the first 3 months of treatment and persistent good control of DEB was noted over 3 years of therapy. A correlation between DEB improvement and etanercept has not been made, but the case may provide insight into the causal mechanisms of DEB.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata (IDI) IRCCS, Via dei Monti de Creta 104, 00167 Rome, Italy. e.gubinelli@idi.it
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gubinelli
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Angelo
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pacifico
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016108:Epidermolysis Bullosa Dystrophica / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000068800:Etanercept