1. Infliximab for the treatment of psoriasis
- Author
-
C. Elise Kleyn and Christopher E.M. Griffiths
- Subjects
Adult ,musculoskeletal diseases ,medicine.drug_class ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Clinical Biochemistry ,Inflammation ,Monoclonal antibody ,Malignancy ,Models, Biological ,Psoriasis ,Drug Discovery ,medicine ,Humans ,Aged ,Pharmacology ,Clinical Trials as Topic ,biology ,Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ,business.industry ,Antibodies, Monoclonal ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Infliximab ,Cytokine ,Immunology ,biology.protein ,Cytokines ,Tumor necrosis factor alpha ,Dermatologic Agents ,Antibody ,medicine.symptom ,business ,medicine.drug - Abstract
Psoriasis is a common immune-mediated skin disease producing significant morbidity. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, plays a key role in the cutaneous inflammation characteristic of psoriasis. Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to TNF-alpha, thereby blocking its biological activity. Data from Phase II and III studies indicate that infliximab is a highly effective, rapidly acting systemic therapy for patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Regular 8-weekly infusions of infliximab maintain significant clinical improvement in the majority of patients for at least 1 year. Infliximab is generally well tolerated, but patients may be susceptible to infection and malignancy.
- Published
- 2006
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