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Updated: Jul 4, 2026
11:39
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Etanercept combined with methotrexate for high-need psoriasis
R J B Driessen1, P C M van de Kerkhof, E M G J de Jong
1Department of Dermatology, Radboud University Medical Centre, PO Box 9101, 6525 GL Nijmegen, the Netherlands. r.driessen@derma.umcn.nl
The British Journal of Dermatology
|June 13, 2008
Summary
Combining etanercept with methotrexate offers improved psoriasis treatment outcomes for patients unresponsive to etanercept monotherapy. This combination therapy demonstrates good tolerability with mild adverse events and no significant laboratory changes.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Etanercept monotherapy may be insufficient for some high-need psoriatic patients.
- Combination therapy with conventional treatments like methotrexate may be indicated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the daily practice safety and efficacy of combining etanercept with methotrexate.
- To provide real-world data on this combination therapy for psoriatic patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective data from patients treated with etanercept were analyzed.
- Cases defined as simultaneous etanercept and methotrexate use were investigated.
- Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, adverse events, and laboratory values were examined.
Main Results:
- Fourteen patients used etanercept and methotrexate concurrently.
- Introducing methotrexate improved psoriasis in 4 of 6 patients.
- Discontinuing methotrexate decreased PASI improvement in 5 of 8 patients.
- The combination was well-tolerated with mild adverse events and no significant lab changes.
Conclusions:
- Combining etanercept with methotrexate is a viable option for psoriatic patients with insufficient response to etanercept monotherapy.
- This combination is also beneficial when rapid psoriasis deterioration is anticipated after methotrexate discontinuation.
- Safety and laboratory profiles were comparable to methotrexate monotherapy.
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