Etanercept therapy for patients with psoriatic arthritis and concurrent hepatitis C virus infection: Report of 3 cases

• Published in: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology Vol. 51; no. 4; pp. 580 - 584
• Main Authors: Magliocco, Melissa Amy, Gottlieb, Alice Bendix
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.10.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Arthritis, Psoriatic - complications; Arthritis, Psoriatic - drug therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Etanercept; Hepatitis C, Chronic - complications; Hepatitis C, Chronic - drug therapy; Hepatitis C, Chronic - virology; Human viral diseases; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - therapeutic use; Immunosuppressive Agents - therapeutic use; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Psoriasis. Parapsoriasis. Lichen; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor - therapeutic use; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the digestive system; Viral hepatitis; Viral Load; Human; Skin disease; Psoriasis; Dermatology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Hepatic disease; Inflammatory joint disease; Psoriatic arthritis; Infection; Spondylarthropathy; Case study; Immunomodulator; Chemotherapy; Chronic; Treatment; Etanercept; Viral disease; Anticytokine; Digestive diseases; Antagonist; Recombinant protein; Tumor necrosis factor α; Viral hepatitis C
• ISSN: 0190-9622; 1097-6787
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2004.05.013

Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are exacerbated by interferon alfa and other treatments for hepatitis C virus infection. Immunosuppressants and hepatotoxic drugs are relatively contraindicated in hepatitis C. Data in the literature suggest that etanercept is a safe option in the treatment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis and concurrent hepatitis C. We present three cases in which we have successfully used etanercept to treat psoriatic arthritis/psoriasis in patients with hepatitis C without worsening their hepatitis or interfering with their hepatitis treatment. With close monitoring of viral load and hepatic enzymes, etanercept may be a safe option for treating psoriatic arthritis/psoriasis in patients who also have hepatitis C.