New findings in the
pathogenesis of psoriasis in the last years have revolutionised the treatment
options for this chronic skin condition. Biologics like TNF-alpha antagonists,
in particular, have proven efficient in long-term disease management if
conventional therapeutic procedures failed. Etanercept is the first biological
product that was approved to treat psoriasis in children. Ustekinumab, another
new drug that received approval for psoriasis therapy only recently, is a
monoclonal antibody directed against the cytokine IL-23. Both substances are of
similar therapeutic efficacy; Ustekinumab, however, is administered only every
twelve weeks. Other new biologics and anti-inflammatory drugs are currently in
clinical trials.
Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease of
the skin that also causes inflammation of the joints in almost 20 per cent of
patients. The chronic inflammatory process induces an increased risk of
hypertension and metabolic diseases, which may develop in the long run into cardiovascular
diseases with severe complications such as heart attacks or strokes. The fatal
risk of severely affected patients is more than twice as high as in
non-affected. Life expectancy of psoriasis patients is reduced by about three to
four years. New treatment strategies providing a life-long control of the
inflammatory processes will most likely lead to a reduction of the
co-morbidities associated with psoriasis. More than 1.4 million people
throughout Germany are suffering from psoriasis.
