Infliximab for psoriasis.

This review summarizes the use of inflximab in psoriasis and other immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs). The magnitude and speed of the response to infliximab monotherapy of moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris is substantial, being similar to those achieved with cyclosporin. In contrast with cyclosporin, clinical improvement after the initial 3 intravenous influsions of infliximab is maintained for as long as 6 months in approximately half the patients with the absence of any additional treatment. Additionally, infliximab monotherapy normalizes keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation and markedly decreases epidermal inflammation. These results provide a convincing argument for the role of TNF-alpha in the pathogenesis of psoriasis and for the clinical development of infliximab for the treatment of psoriasis.