title: A case of severe psoriasis with an apparent incomplete response to anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha treatment.
abstract: This report covers a case of severe psoriasis that appeared to respond well to treatment with subcutaneous etanercept, with good recovery of the arthropathic component. However, there were distinct areas at the patient's hands and wrists that failed to respond to such treatment. A standard series of patch tests yielded strong positive responses to the vaseline ointment and mercaptobenzothiazole mix, substances that the patient had constantly applied, twice daily, before and during the anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha therapy course, as an emollient, rubber-gloved topical treatment. This case is reported to provide further evidence of the efficacy of etanercept treatment, and to confirm that the immunopathological pathway leading to psoriasis and allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) sometimes goes into 'overdrive' in ACD, giving a mixed pattern, involving each of the branches of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Unit and Pso-Care Center, A. Cardarelli Hospital, Campobasso, Italy. agnusabc@virgilio.it
authors.forename: Concetto P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Agnusdei
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mastronardi
mesh_terms: D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004643:Emollients / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000068800:Etanercept; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010328:Patch Tests; D010577:Petrolatum / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D052160:Benzothiazoles; D004643:Emollients; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; C005563:captax; D010577:Petrolatum; D000068800:Etanercept