Psoriasis and hepatitis C treated with anti-TNF alpha therapy (etanercept)

Abstract

The treatment of severe psoriasis in patients with concomitant hepatitis-C virus infection is quite difficult because several systemic anti-psoriatic drugs are contraindicated owing to their liver toxicity. Recent observations in the literature suggest that etanercept is an effective and safe therapy for this setting of patients. We present a 45-year-old man with extensive plaque psoriasis and concurrent hepatitis C, successfully treated with 12-month etanercept monotherapy. Regular controls of hepatic enzymes and viral load during the treatment disclosed no worsening of baseline values. This case confirms that etanercept may be a safe option for the therapy of patients with psoriasis and hepatitis-C virus infection.