NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Patients with severe psoriasis previously treated with Enbrel (also known as etanercept) may respond to Remicade (also known as infliximab), a study published this month suggests.

Remicade, which is given by intravenous infusion and is used to treat arthritis, has shown promising results for the treatment of severe psoriasis and may be considered in patients who are unresponsive to other drugs, Drs. Robert E. Kalb and Kassie A. Haitz, from the University of New York at Buffalo say.

In the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, the researchers report their experience using Remicade to treat 19 adults with psoriasis who had previously been treated with Enbrel.

All 19 had been treated with Enbrel for an average of 17 months. Fourteen patients (74 percent) had initial improvement with Enbrel, but the benefits were lost during the course of treatment. Three patients discontinued Enbrel treatment because of insurance issues, and two failed to respond.

All 19 patients started on Remicade therapy, and after 12 to 14 weeks of treatment, 17 (89 percent) showed initial improvement based doctor ratings and clinical exam. In 10 patients (53 percent), the dose of Remicade had to be increased in order to maintain control of their disease.

Nine patients experienced minor infections during Remicade therapy. One subject chose to discontinue Remicade and one discontinued because of an infusion reaction.

Fifteen patients (79 percent) still receive Remicade infusions at regular intervals, the researchers report.

SOURCE: Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology July 2007.

REUTERS