RESULTS: The first patient had been suffering from
ankylosing spondylitis (AS) for more than 12 years.
Infliximab induced a remission of AS, but he developed overt
Crohn's disease two years after starting treatment. The second patient had AS for more than 20 years.
Infliximab had an excellent effect on his AS, but he developed palmo-plantar
psoriasis a few months after initiating
therapy with the
drug. The third patient, whose long-term and severe
psoriasis had responded to
infliximab developed peripheral
arthritis. A review of the literature revealed 63 cases of
psoriasis induced by TNF-α blockers (33 on
Infliximab, 16 on
Etanercept and 14 on
Adalimumab). The underlying diseases were variable, including all the spectrum of conditions for which TNF-α blockers are indicated. Patients developed
psoriasis after a mean
duration of treatment of 11 months. Interstingly, a substantial proportion of patients continued treatment with TNF α blockers, the
psoriasis improving in a majorityof cases under topical treatment only.
CONCLUSION: