Adverse effects of biological agents in the treatment of psoriasis

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists are generally well tolerated, but carry the risk of side effects. In patients with psoriasis, the potential risks with anti-TNF agents may be overestimated because the most commonly reported adverse events are based on studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. Whereas patients with psoriasis typically receive monotherapy, these patients are treated with biological-based combination therapies. Furthermore, patients with psoriasis have distinctive and different comorbidities, which could play a role in the development of different adverse events. However, the potential risks of the use of biological agents should always be taken into consideration. © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved.