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Effects of etanercept on C-reactive protein levels in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

B Strober1, C Teller, P Yamauchi

  • 1Ronald O Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. Strober@nyc.rr.com

The British Journal of Dermatology
|May 28, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Etanercept significantly reduced C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in patients with psoriasis, indicating a decrease in systemic inflammation. This effect was observed in both psoriasis with and without psoriatic arthritis, with notable associations between CRP, BMI, and disease severity.

Area of Science:

  • Immunodermatology
  • Rheumatology
  • Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

Background:

  • C-reactive protein (CRP) is a key inflammation biomarker linked to cardiovascular risk.
  • Elevated CRP levels are common in psoriasis patients.
  • The impact of etanercept on CRP in psoriasis has not been previously studied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the effect of etanercept on C-reactive protein (CRP) levels in psoriasis patients over 12 weeks.
  • To explore baseline CRP associations with body mass index (BMI), statin use, and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of CRP levels from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.
  • Inclusion of patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, with and without psoriatic arthritis.
  • Separate analysis for patients with self-reported psoriatic arthritis.

Main Results:

  • Elevated baseline CRP levels were observed in psoriasis patients, with or without psoriatic arthritis.
  • Etanercept treatment led to a significant reduction in CRP levels after 12 weeks.
  • Higher BMI and psoriatic arthritis were associated with higher baseline and reduced CRP levels; PASI scores correlated with baseline CRP independently of BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, with or without psoriatic arthritis, is characterized by elevated systemic inflammation (CRP).
  • Etanercept effectively reduces CRP levels in most psoriasis patients, including those with psoriatic arthritis.
  • Skin disease activity (PASI) is significantly associated with CRP elevation in psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis, independent of BMI, age, and sex.
Abstract

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