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Adalimumab for psoriasis in Greece: clinical experience in a tertiary referral centre
Author(s) -
Fotiadou C.,
Lazaridou E.,
Sotiriou E.,
Ioannides D.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of the european academy of dermatology and venereology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.655
H-Index - 107
eISSN - 1468-3083
pISSN - 0926-9959
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2011.04290.x
Subject(s) - adalimumab , medicine , psoriasis , adverse effect , referral , psoriasis area and severity index , clinical trial , tertiary referral hospital , retrospective cohort study , dermatology , surgery , disease , family medicine
Background Adalimumab, a fully human, anti‐TNFα monoclonal antibody has been shown to be effective for moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis in clinical trial setting. However, only a limited number of studies reflect everyday clinical experience with this drug. Objectives To provide evidence on the efficacy, dose optimization and safety of adalimumab based on everyday clinical experience in a tertiary referral centre for psoriasis, in Greece. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the records of all patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis who received adalimumab, in our referral centre, between January 2008 and October 2010. Results In total, 52 patients were treated with adalimumab for a mean period of 14 months (range 4–30 months). Mean baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was 16.7 (range 9–40.3). At 4, 6, 12 and 18 months, PASI75 was attained by 68%, 82%, 89% and 88% of patients respectively. Nineteen of 52 patients (36%) reached a PASI100 at a mean time of 10 months (range 4–18 months). The dose interval between the injections of adalimumab was increased from 2 to 3 weeks for 14 patients (27%) who achieved and sustained a PASI100 after the first year of treatment, without any relapse. The overall rate of adverse events reached 38%, but treatment was discontinued only in two cases (4%). Conclusions Our study demonstrates that adalimumab is effective and safe in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis in short‐ and long‐term setting. At the same time, it points out novel and interesting issues for further investigation.