RESEARCH - TNF-blocker therapy for RA may trigger psoriasis

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TNF-Blocker Therapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis May Trigger Psoriasis

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NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 03 - A study by UK researchers adds to

case reports of incident psoriasis occurring in rheumatoid arthritis

(RA) patients treated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha

agents.

" We observed 25 cases of new-onset psoriasis in our cohort of almost

10,000 patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving anti-TNF therapy, "

investigator Dr. Kimme L. Hyrich told Reuters Health. This compared to

" no cases reported in our non-biologic treated control cohort. "

As reported in the February issue of the ls of the Rheumatic

Diseases, Dr. Hyrich of the University of Manchester and colleagues

studied data on 9826 anti-TNF-treated patients and 2880 treated with

DMARDS (disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs). Based on the 25

psoriasis cases, the investigators calculate that the incidence rate

for new-onset psoriasis was 1.04 per 1000 person years in the

TNF-blocker cohort.

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Read the full article here:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/587732

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