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Drugs for Psoriasis

Introduction to Psoriasis

 common, chronic, inflammatory dermatosis.


 It is characterised by erythematous, well demarcated plaques, and rounded
scales which look like silvery mica. Pruritus may be present.
 Lesions are usually symmetrical and occur on the extensor surfaces such as
the elbows and knees, and on the scalp.
 About 50% of the patients have involvement of the finger nails and some have
psoriatic arthritis.
Risk factors of Psoriasis

 Genetic predisposition to psoriasis is known.


 Infections, particularly due to streptococci can trigger an attack.
 drug-induced flares of psoriasis can occur
Some systemic drugs (Beta blockers, ACE inhibitors,Lithium,Chloroquine)
 Injury to skin
 Psychological stress
Pathogenesis

 The commonest variety of psoriasis is characterised by plaques, which consist of


greatly thickened horny layer of the skin (hyperkeratosis).
 They are characterised by hyperproliferation of the epidermal keratinocytes and
inflammation of both the epidermis and the dermis, along with angiogenesis.
 These changes are due to cytokines released by T-lymphocyte, which initate
autoimmune dermal response to unidentified antigenic stimuli (keratinocyte proteins).
Pathogenesis Cntd

 The affected dermis shows predominance of CD4 lymphocytes. The activated


T cells from the dermis cause the keratocytes to proliferate;

 the inflammatory changes include infiltration of the epidermis by leucocytes.

 It is now known that TNF-a is the primary activator of the T-lymphocytes and
it also contributes to the maintenance of a complex inflammatory reaction.
current therapy only suppresses the disease and recurrence is common .

However, the disease may undergo spontaneous remission


Treatment
 depends on the type, the location and the extent of the lesions.
 The patients are advised to avoid known exacerbating factors.
 Mild cases of psoriasis may not warrant any drug therapy, since drugs used can produce toxicity.

Indications for drug treatment


 Marked local symptoms such as pain and itching.
 Prominent lesions on hand, leg or face
 Diminished mobility.

Drugs used in the treatment of psoriasis either cause keratolysis and/or inhibit cell division.
They do not cure the disease
Treatment of Psoriasis

 Topical therapy
 Systemic therapy
 Phototherapy
Topical Therapy

 Emollients

 Keratolytic agents: Salicylic acid 2–10%.

 Cytostatic agents: Coal tar, Dithranol

 Glucocorticoids.

 Calcipotriol, Tacalcitol
Emollients

 act by hydrating and softening the scales


 used in mild cases
 commonly used emollients - yellow, soft paraffin and aqueous cream.
 greasy emollients are sometimes preferred, they are less accepted by the patients.
Salicylic acid

 most widely used keratolytic agent,


 used either alone or with coal tar.
(It is an irritant…… avoid contact with the eyes )
Cytostatic agents
 dithranol and coal tar are used, along with UVB phototherapy, in the treatment of
psoriasis and other hyperplastic skin disorders.
 restore a normal rate of epidermal proliferation.
 In severe cases, systemic therapy with either etretinate or methotrexate both of
which, act as cytostatic agents in the skin, may be needed
 Crude coal tar (3% ointment) :
 used to treat chronic, lichenified lesions.
 Coal tar, even in low concentration, has an unpleasant odour, and can cause irritation
and acneform eruption. ( less acceptable.)
GLUCOCORTICOIDS

 Topical glucocorticoid preparations of the mild and moderately potent varieties are
preferred because of their
1. efficacy,
2. high degree of acceptability to the patients
3. low cost.
 Once a day application to the lesions is probably as effective as the twice a day regimen
and is less liable to cause ADR.
 act mainly as anti-inflammatory agents.
 Relapse rate is higher than with other forms of therapy.
CALCIPOTRIOL

 vitamin D derivative
 applied locally to mild to moderate psoriatic lesions.
 effective as topical, medium potency glucocorticoids but is much less toxic.
 applied daily as an ointment containing 50 mcg/g for about 8 weeks.
 The ointment is colourless, does not stain clothes and no unpleasant smell.
 It can sometimes cause irritation and hypercalcemia.
 Tacalcitol is another vitamin D analogue which is effective.
Systemic therapy
 most patients respond to local therapy,
 about 20% may require systemic therapy.
 expensive, more toxic and needs supervision.
 The drugs used are:
o ETRETINATE
o METHOTREXATE
o CYCLOSPORINE
o MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL
o Systemic glucocorticoids
o Biological agents

Alefacept , Infliximab, Etanercept, Adalimumab, Ustekinumab


ETRETINATE(methoxsalen)

 second generation retinoid


 It inhibits keratinisation and proliferation, and normalises differentiation of epithelial
tissues.
 Used alone, it has limited efficacy in psoriasis.
 It is usually combined with psoralen and UV-A phototherapy in chronic plaque
psoriasis.
 The drug accumulates in the adipose tissue and the liver.
 Dosage
orally in the dose of 0.5-1.0 mg/kg per day
Cntd…

adverse reactions
 dryness,
 scaly erythema
 tenderness.
 teratogenic and should not be used in woman of the reproductive age until pregnancy is
excluded. patient must avoid pregnancy during treatment and for at least 3 years after the
treatment is over because of its long half life (about 120 days).
 Patients taking this drug should not donate blood for 3 years after stopping it.
 Acitretin, a metabolite of etretinate, is now preferred to etretinate in therapy. Its limitations are
similar to those of etretinate. Topical tazarotene, a retinoid applied once daily, is also effective.
METHOTREXATE
 folic acid antagonist ,acts by blocking DNA synthesis and inhibiting cell proliferation.
 also act as an immunosuppressant..
 It is preferred in severe case with arthritis, where coal tar-U V therapy has failed.
 It should be used only in patients with normal hematological, renal and hepatic status.
 The drug is usually well tolerated in the doses recommended.
 The main long term toxicity is hepatic cirrhosis

 Dosage
 It is given orally in 3 doses, usually 2.5-5.0 mg. at 12 hourly, intervals, every week
CYCLOSPORINE

 This drug is used as an immunosuppressant


 acts by inhibiting the production of IL2, a cytokine necessary for proliferation of
activated T cells, and other T cell cytokines .
 The important adverse effects are hypertension and renal toxicity which may be
irreversible.
 for patients with severe refractory psoriasis.
MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL

 immunosuppressant
 has been reported to be useful in the treatment of psoriasis.
 Adverse effects reported are mild and dose dependent.
Systemic glucocorticoids

 though very effective, needs high doses to suppress the disease, causes ADR.
 relapse rate is high.
 should be reserved for acutely ill patients with erythrodermic psoriasis.
Biological agents
 Recently introduced in the treatment of psoriasis.
 Given parenterally, they are effective in about 30-70% of patients with
moderate to severe psoriasis.
 They are:
 (1) Alefacept
 (2) Infliximab
 (3) Etanercept
 (4) Adalimumab
 (5) Ustekinumab
Biological Agents

 (1) Alefacept
action
binds to CD2 on activated T cells

impairs co-stimulatory signals of leucocyte-function-associated antigen-3 (LFA-3).

decreases the number of T cells.


 (2) Infliximab inihibits TNF-α functionally.
 (3) Etanercept is a recombinant human TNF receptor antagonist
 (4) Adalimumab,
 humanised IgG1mAb,
 blocks TNF-α.
 Chances of development of neutralising antibody are less compared to infliximab.

 (5) Ustekinumab:
 human monoclonal antibody
 reduces skin inflammation by blocking the activity of IL-12 and IL-23.
 indicated in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who cannot take standard
therapy.
Psoriatic Arthritis

 TNFα inhibitors, golimumab and certolizumab, are


approved for psoriatic arthritis…expensive
 Selectivephosphodiesterase -4(PDE-4) inhibitor,
apremilast, is also available for psoriatic arthritis

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