Pediatric psoriasis: updates in biologic therapies.

Abstract

Psoriasis is not a rare disease in the pediatric population. Early recognition and treatment is necessary to improve the physical and psychological symptoms of psoriasis and minimize its adverse effects on future health. In moderate-to-severe cases, treatment is challenging. There is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved systemic treatment for children and adolescents with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis other than topical corticosteroids, and current treatment is limited to the ones that are used in adults, which may have more severe side effects in children. Recently, there have been advances in the use of biologic therapies, specifically tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha blockers, for pediatric autoimmune diseases and pediatric psoriasis. The present review will summarize the data on TNF inhibitors for pediatric psoriasis, as well as detail studies that led to the approval of biologics in other pediatric autoimmune diseases.

• Authors: Smita V Sukhatme, Alice B Gottlieb
• Journal: Dermatologic therapy (Dermatol Ther) 2009 Jan-Feb Vol. 22 Issue 1 Pg. 34-9 ISSN: 1529-8019 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19222515 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Biological Products
• Dermatologic Agents
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Topics

• Adolescent
• Autoimmune Diseases (drug therapy, immunology)
• Biological Products (adverse effects, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Child
• Dermatologic Agents (adverse effects, immunology, therapeutic use)
• Drug Approval
• Humans
• Psoriasis (drug therapy, immunology)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (antagonists & inhibitors)
• United States
• United States Food and Drug Administration