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The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
11:39

The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis

Published on: July 11, 2013

Intermittent etanercept therapy in pediatric patients with psoriasis

Elaine C Siegfried1, Lawrence F Eichenfield, Amy S Paller

  • 1Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital and Saint Louis University, Saint Louis, Missouri 63104, USA. esiegfri@slu.edu

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
|September 14, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Intermittent etanercept therapy is safe and effective for pediatric psoriasis. In a 48-week study, 80% of pediatric patients maintained or regained PASI 75, with no serious adverse events reported.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric dermatology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Etanercept is a well-tolerated treatment for adult psoriasis.
  • Limited data exists on intermittent etanercept use in pediatric psoriasis patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intermittent etanercept administration in children with psoriasis.
  • To assess the outcomes of a withdrawal-retreatment strategy in pediatric psoriasis.

Main Methods:

  • A 48-week study involving pediatric patients (4-17 years) with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (PASI ≥ 12).
  • Following initial treatment, eligible patients achieving PASI 75 were re-randomized to a 12-week withdrawal (placebo) or retreatment (etanercept) period.
  • Patients receiving placebo were retreated with etanercept if PASI 75 was not maintained.

Main Results:

  • 138 patients entered the withdrawal-retreatment phase, randomized equally to placebo or etanercept.
  • 80% of patients on etanercept (blinded or open-label) maintained or regained PASI 75.
  • No serious adverse events or infections were reported; 70% of patients on blinded etanercept maintained PASI 75 throughout the 12-week period, versus 54% on placebo.

Conclusions:

  • Intermittent etanercept therapy demonstrated safety and efficacy in pediatric psoriasis over a 12-week withdrawal-retreatment period.
  • No serious adverse events or infections occurred, supporting the safety profile.
  • The efficacy was supported by 80% of patients maintaining or regaining PASI 75 on etanercept.
Abstract

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