Safety of anti-TNFα agents in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Context: The efficacy and favorable safety profile of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) agents in the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) are supported by several randomized controlled studies and meta-analyses. However, some concerns on the long-term safety of these drugs still exist, as these studies generally included small patient numbers and were performed in selected patient populations.Objective: This review presents and discusses current evidence on the safety of anti-TNFα agents in patients with psoriasis and PsA, with a focus on European registry studies and case reports of particular importance.Methods: Key studies on the safety of anti-TNFα agents in the treatment of adult patients with psoriasis or PsA were identified by a MEDLINE search (last updated 10 November 2011) based on several interrelated queries, with a focus on European registries. Other studies and case reports were included if deemed relevant. Studies concerning other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA)...