title: Current evidence in the field of the management with TNF-α inhibitors in psoriatic arthritis and concomitant hepatitis C virus infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a chronic inflammatory condition involving the spine, enthesis and peripheral joints, which is associated with psoriasis. PsA therapy varies from use of NSAIDs to disease-modifying anti-rheumatic agents (DMARDs). However, their use can represent a limitation in patients with concomitant hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. In the last few decades, anti-TNF-α therapy has opened new horizons in the treatment of PsA. Hence, the purpose of this review is to explore the efficacy and safety of anti-TNF-α agents in PsA and concomitant HCV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the available medical literature to find all cases of PsA and concomitant HCV infection treated with TNF-α inhibitors. We found a total of 38 cases of patients with PsA and concomitant HCV infection in therapy with anti-TNF-α agents.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The available literature, summarized in this review, still remains very limited. Data suggest that therapy with the anti-TNF-α agents, mainly etanercept and adalimumab, at least with short-term use, would appear efficacious and reasonably safe in the management of PsA patients with concomitant HCV infection. With regard to infliximab, efficacy and safety have been scarcely explored, whereas in the case of golimumab and certolizumab no report was found, may be due to their recent introduction on the market.
authors: University of Padova, Department of Medicine DIMED, Rheumatology Unit , Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padova , Italy +39 049 8211206 ; +39 049 8214382 ; francescocaso1@yahoo.it.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Caso
authors: Luca
authors: L
authors: Cantarini
authors: Filomena
authors: F
authors: Morisco
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Del Puente
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Ramonda
authors: Ugo
authors: U
authors: Fiocco
authors: Ennio
authors: E
authors: Lubrano
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Peluso
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Caso
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Galeazzi
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Punzi
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Scarpa
authors: Luisa
authors: L
authors: Costa
mesh_terms: D000068879:Adalimumab; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol; D019468:Disease Management; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000069285:Infliximab; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D007140:Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C529000:golimumab; D000069285:Infliximab; D000068879:Adalimumab; D000068582:Certolizumab Pegol
keywords: TNF-α inhibitors; adalimumab; etanercept; hepatitis C virus infection; psoriatic arthritis