Infliximab monotherapy provides rapid and sustained benefit for plaque-type psoriasis

Background: Effective, rapid-acting, safe therapies are needed for the long-term treatment of psoriasis. Objective: We sought to evaluate infliximab monotherapy in maintaining clinical benefit in psoriasis. Methods: A total of 33 patients received 3 doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg of infliximab or placebo at weeks 0, 2, and 6 (double-blind phase). During the open-label phase (weeks 10-26), responding patients were evaluated for relapse (loss of at least half of the improvement in the Psoriasis Area Severity Index score at week 10) and retreated with open-label infliximab (5 or 10 mg/kg) as needed. Placebo nonresponders were treated with an induction regimen of infliximab (5 or 10 mg/kg) and followed up through week 26. Results: In all, 29 patients received either 5 or 10 mg/kg of infliximab in the open-label extension. At week 26, psoriasis area severity index response was maintained in 40% and 73% of patients receiving 5 and 10 mg/kg of infliximab, respectively. Conclusion: Infliximab produced a rapid, effective, and sustainable (through week 26) effect in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.