title: Long-term safety and efficacy of etanercept in patients with psoriasis: an open-label study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In two previous phase 3 studies, up to 60 weeks of etanercept therapy significantly improved the symptoms of psoriasis and was well tolerated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the long-term safety of etanercept in an open-label extension study for up to 72 weeks in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 912 patients received 50 mg subcutaneous etanercept once weekly (OW) for the first 12 weeks of this extension study. Thereafter, eligible patients could maintain the 50 mg QW dose (n = 321) or escalate to 50 mg twice weekly (BIW; n = 591) anytime thereafter based on one of three predetermined criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Etanercept was well tolerated during 1056 patient-years of exposure; no difference was observed between the 50 mg QW and 50 mg BIW dosages in rates of adverse events and infections. Improvement in skin disease was maintained throughout the study. Patients who stopped and then restarted etanercept also showed improvement in psoriasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psoriatic patients continued to benefit from open-label etanercept treatment, both continuous and interrupted therapy, which was generally well tolerated after a combined 2.5 years of experience.
authors.affiliation: St. Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63117, USA. craig.leonardi@centralderm.com
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Leonardi
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strober
authors.forename: Alice B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: Boni E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Elewski
authors.forename: Jean-Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Ortonne
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van de Kerkhof
authors.forename: Chiun-Fang
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Chiou
authors.forename: Meleana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jahreis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000068800:Etanercept; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D000068800:Etanercept