Infliximab in dermatological treatment: beyond psoriasis

Abstract

Infliximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody of the IgG1 class. Experience from its use has been accumulated in rheumatology and gastroenterology by the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease, respectively. Because of its TNF-α binding capacity it has been approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Moreover, it has also been evaluated in other inflammatory dermatoses as well as systemic diseases involving the skin such as severe atopic dermatitis, pityriasis rubra pilaris, pyoderma gangrenosum and cutaneous sarcoidosis. The possible future uses of infliximab in dermatology are being reviewed herein.

Keywords::

• anti-TNF
• inflammatory dermatoses
• infliximab
• TNF-α