title: Long-term safety of ustekinumab for psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The biologic, Ustekinumab (Stelara®, Centocor, Inc., Malvern, PA, USA), is a fully human monoclonal antibody with a high affinity for the shared p40 subunit of interleukins 12 and 23 (IL-12 and IL-23). Approved for use in treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis in 2009, there has been considerable interest in the long-term safety of ustekinumab.
  
  
  METHODS
  This review discusses the use of ustekinumab in the treatment of psoriasis and its potential to be an effective and well-tolerated therapy. A literature search was performed for articles published through April 2013 to identify any safety concerns.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that ustekinumab has demonstrated higher efficacy rates as compared to traditional therapies; and with a favorable dosing schedule and stable safety profile, patients with recalcitrant disease will now have another option for treatment.
authors.affiliation: Tufts Medical Center, Department of Dermatology, 800 Washington Street, Box 114, Boston, MA 02111, USA. neal.kumar@tufts.edu
authors.forename: Neal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Kirti
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narang
authors.forename: Brienne D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Cressey
authors.forename: Alice B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
mesh_terms: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069549:Ustekinumab
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D000069549:Ustekinumab