Etanercept

Background: In some patients with psoriasis the inflammatory process fueling skin lesions also afflicts their joints in a condition called psoriatic arthritis. TNF-alpha has been shown to play a central role in the pathogenesis of both cutaneous and joint disease. Etanercept is a soluble fusion protein that binds TNF-alpha, rendering the molecule inactive and making etanercept an effective, targeted therapeutic option for many TNF-mediated inflammatory diseases. Objective: To review the key clinical trials which evaluated efficacy of etanercept for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, discuss various off-label uses for this therapeutic agent and describe the adverse events associated with its use. Methods: A search of Medline for relevant articles on etanercept and psoriasis. Results/conclusion: Etanercept has demonstrated efficacy in the treatment of skin and joint manifestations of psoriatic disease, thus gaining FDA approval for use in both. A growing number of off-label dermatological uses for etanercept have been proposed, with variable success reported in individual cases or small series. Since its introduction little over a decade ago, etanercept has maintained a favorable safety profile.