Long-term safety of etanercept in psoriasis: Retrospective study focused on infections

OBJECTIVE Retrospective study to evaluate the incidence of infectious adverse events in patients with psoriasis treated with etanercept. METHODS Patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis who were treated with etanercept (50 mg, administered weekly via subcutaneous injection) for ≥48 weeks were retrospectively enrolled. Patients were screened for occult infections before treatment commenced, and then every 12 months thereafter. Minor (not requiring hospitalization and/or discontinuation of treatment) and major (requiring hospitalization and/or discontinuation of treatment) infectious events were recorded. RESULTS The study included 50 patients. Minor infectious events included self-limiting upper respiratory tract infections (six patients), lower urinary tract infections (one patient) and recurrent herpes simplex labialis (two patients). Major infections occurred in only two cases. CONCLUSION These data support the good safety profile of etanercept in patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis.