[Off-label use of biologic agents in the treatment of dermatosis, Part 1: infliximab and adalimumab].

In recent years, the therapeutic armamentarium available to dermatologists has been extended thanks to the development of numerous biologic agents. In our field, immunomodulators--although currently only approved for psoriasis--have given rise to new therapeutic possibilities in a number of inflammatory skin diseases. Since these new agents have more specific immunologic mechanisms of action, their efficacy and safety is an improvement on traditional immunosuppressants. Consequently, it is very likely that they will play an important role in dermatology in the next few years. This article, the first part of a review of off-label use of biologic agents in dermatology, describes the anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibodies, infliximab and adalimumab.