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Etanercept in therapy multiresistant overlapping pityriasis lichenoides
A F Nikkels1, P Gillard, G E Piérard
1Department of Dermatopathology, University Hospital of Liège, Belgium. af.nikkels@chu.ulg.ac.be
Journal of Drugs in Dermatology : JDD
|December 31, 2008
Summary
Etanercept, an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha agent, shows promise for treating drug-resistant overlapping pityriasis lichenoides (OPL). This case report suggests etanercept as a potential therapeutic option for patients with OPL unresponsive to conventional treatments.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Pityriasis lichenoides (PL) presents variedly, with overlapping pityriasis lichenoides (OPL) combining acute and chronic features.
- Therapeutic challenges arise in drug-multiresistant OPL cases.
- Etanercept, an anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha agent, is an established treatment for other inflammatory conditions.
Observation:
- A 65-year-old woman with a 5-year history of therapy-resistant OPL received etanercept.
- Initial treatments including antibiotics, corticosteroids, PUVA, UVB, methotrexate, dapsone, and cyclosporine were ineffective.
- Etanercept was administered weekly due to multiresistance.
Findings:
- After 2 months of etanercept, significant improvement in pruritus and inflammation was noted.
- No adverse effects related to etanercept were observed during the 4-month treatment period.
- New OPL lesions recurred one month after discontinuing etanercept.
Implications:
- This is the first report detailing etanercept's effectiveness in treating overlapping pityriasis lichenoides (OPL).
- Etanercept may be a viable therapeutic alternative for patients with treatment-resistant OPL.
- Further research is warranted to establish etanercept's role in OPL management.
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