Dermatológia pre prax 2/2009
New findings on biological therapy of plaque psoriasis with etanercept
Etanercept is a biological agent inhibiting TNFα and is used, among other things, for the treatment of plaque psoriasis. Its effectiveness has been confirmed in a number of studies: with routine dosage (50 mg/week by subcutaneous injection), nearly half of the patients experience a 50% improvement within six months. Etanercept is effective even when readministered and can be used to treat severe psoriasis in children. Etanercept is a relatively safe drug; risks of long-term therapy with biologics including possible activation of TB or development of lymphomas are discussed.
Keywords: etanercept, plaque psoriasis
