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  • Title: Strategy to manage the treatment of severe psoriasis: considerations of efficacy, safety and cost.
    Author: Feldman SR, Garton R, Averett W, Balkrishnan R, Vallee J.
    Journal: Expert Opin Pharmacother; 2003 Sep; 4(9):1525-33. PubMed ID: 12943482.
    Abstract:
    Psoriasis is a common, unpredictable, chronic immune-mediated disease characterised by skin lesions and frequently associated with arthritis. Although rarely fatal, psoriasis has a tremendous impact on a patients' quality of life. Traditional therapies for severe psoriasis include phototherapy, methotrexate, oral retinoids and cyclosporin. New biological agents add to the treatment options for psoriasis; however, they raise the already considerable cost of managing the disease. In considering efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness, ultraviolet Type B (UVB) phototherapy appears to be the best first-line agent for the control of psoriasis. Methotrexate, psoralen plus UVA, alefacept, etanercept and infliximab are appropriate second-line agents, the choice of which requires considerable patient input and physician judgement. Developing rational, effective and acceptable strategies to manage psoriasis treatments would encourage cost-effective psoriasis management.
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