EXPERT OPINION - Cost-effectiveness of moderate-to-severe psoriasis treatment

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Summary

Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy

February 2006, Vol. 7, No. 2, Pages 157-167

(doi:10.1517/14656566.7.2.157)

Cost-effectiveness of moderate-to-severe psoriasis treatment

Psoriasis is a common, chronic inflammatory disease that can cause as much

disability as cancer, diabetes or other major medical illnesses. Traditional

therapies for treating moderate-to-severe psoriasis include phototherapy,

methotrexate, oral retinoids and ciclosporin. New biological treatments

provide further therapeutic options, but add to the already considerable

cost of managing psoriasis. Expert panels have published guidelines for the

use of biological agents in managing moderate-to-severe psoriasis; however,

few if any of these guidelines appropriately consider the cost-effectiveness

of treatment options. When considering cost-effectiveness in addition to

safety and efficacy, ultraviolet Type B phototherapy seems to be the best

first-line agent for the control of moderate-to-severe psoriasis, despite a

small potential for cumulative toxicity. The biologics should be considered

as second-line agents alongside the traditional systemic treatments when

phototherapy proves to be ineffective or is otherwise contraindicated, such

as in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

http://www.ashley-pub.com/doi/abs/10.1517/14656566.7.2.157

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