Infliximab in the treatment of plaque psoriasis

Plaque psoriasis is a chronic and immune-mediated skin disease that affects approximately 1-3% of the Caucasian population. TNF-α is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Infliximab is a chimeric anti-TNF-α monoclonal antibody with high affinity for soluble and cell-surface transmembrane TNF-α. Results from Phase II and III trials and long-term studies with continuous and intermittent maintenance regimens indicate that regular infusions of infliximab (5 mg/kg) are highly effective, with a rapid onset of response, safety and improvement in quality of life. Infliximab is generally well tolerated, but may be associated with adverse events such as infections, malignancies or loss of response due to the development of neutralizing antibodies.