title: Efficacy and safety of infliximab in psoriatic patients over the age of 65.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical data on the long-term safety and efficacy of infliximab on psoriatic patients who are older than 65 years are limited.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim is to report the long-term efficacy, safety and tolerance of infliximab in geriatric patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a retrospective study conducted at the Department of Dermatology of the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Clinical data were reported at week 12, 52, 104, 208.
  
  
  RESULTS
  151 charts were evaluated. A total of 27 patients were included. Range of the age was between 65 and 85 years; mean age was 73 years ±5.4; female to male ratio was 1:2; mean age of onset of psoriasis was 43 years±17. The average of treatment duration was 39 months ±27 (range 1-100). Fourteen patients suffered from plaque type psoriasis and 13 from psoriatic arthritis. At the baseline the mean PASI score was 15.6 ± 10.2. At week 12, 52, 104, and 208 the mean PASI was 2, 2.3, 1.9 and 1.8 respectively. A reduction in the mean PASI was maintained in the long-term treatment in 12 patients (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest that long-term treatment with infliximab is effective and safe in patients over 65 years old and that IV therapy is also associated with a high compliance.
authors.affiliation: a Dermatology Department , University of Pisa , Pisa , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiricozzi
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dermatology , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pavlidis
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dermatology , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Annunziata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dattola
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dermatology , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Rheumatology, Allergology and Clinical Immunology , University of Rome 'Tor Vergata' , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Sole
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chimenti
authors.affiliation: d Faculty of Medicine , University of Tirana , Tirana , Albania.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fida
authors.affiliation: b Department of Dermatology , University of Rome Tor Vergata , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Rosita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saraceno
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000069285:Infliximab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D000069285:Infliximab
keywords: Psoriasis; elderly; infliximab; long-term