Efficacy and Safety of Subcutaneous Anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha Agents, Etanercept and Adalimumab, in Elderly Patients Affected by Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis: An Observational Long-Term Study

Background: In elderly patients the management of psoriasis is challenging due to contraindications and a higher risk of side effects. Objective: Our retrospective study aimed to evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety profile of subcutaneous anti-tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF) agents in elderly psoriatic patients. Methods: The study included 89 patients (aged >= 65 years) with plaque-type psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treated with the subcutaneous anti-TNF-alpha agents etanercept or adalimumab as monotherapy for a long-term continuous period. Results: Efficacy results were consistent and stable over long-term observation, as expressed by mean Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) score variation, percentage of patients achieving PASI50 and PASI75 and by the improvement of articular indices, pain visual analogue scale (Pain-VAS) and 44-Joint Disease Activity Score (DAS44-ESR). The proportion of patients achieving PASI50 was 91.80 and 82.14% at week 156 with etanercept and adalimumab treatment, respectively, while the proportion of patients achieving PASI75 was 83.61 and 71.43% at week 156 when treated with etanercept and adalimumab, respectively. The mean DAS44-ESR score decreased from 5.80 to 0.89 and from 3.43 to 1.44 at week 156 and the mean Pain-VAS score decreased from 75.10 to 3.15 and from 71.30 to 18.26 at week 156 with etanercept and adalimumab treatment, respectively. Both treatment adherence and safety profile were good. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that subcutaneous anti-TNF-alpha agents are appropriate in the long-term management of elderly patients. Copyright (c) 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel