1. Thrombocytopenia associated with the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents for psoriasis.
- Author
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Brunasso AM, Massone C, Brunasso, Alexandra Maria Giovanna, and Massone, Cesare
- Abstract
Background: Thrombocytopenia has been reported to be associated with efalizumab therapy, but has only sporadically been reported with other anti-tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-alpha) agents.Objective: To describe the frequency of thrombocytopenia in a cohort of patients who underwent biological therapies for psoriasis.Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of 93 patients.Results: One hundred eighteen courses of biological therapies were administered to 93 patients. Four of 67 patients who received anti-TNF-alpha agents developed drug-induced thrombocytopenia during treatment, compared with none of the 51 patients receiving efalizumab therapy. The platelet count recovered after suspension of anti-TNF-alpha agents in 3 patients and relapsed after re-exposure in two patients. The overall estimated frequency of thrombocytopenia in our cohort was 4.30% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0% to 6.2%).Limitations: These findings should be validated in larger studies.Conclusions: Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a potential side effect of anti-TNF-alpha agents. Immediate monitoring of platelet counts is recommended if autoimmunity is suspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2009
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