Psoriasis drug has wide ranging benefit

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

A drug used to treat the clinical symptoms of psoriasis may also relieve the depression and fatigue that often accompany the condition.
Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition caused by overproduction of cells in the upper skin layer. This leads to redness, flakiness and a scaly appearance. Often, patients with psoriasis get depressed by having the disease.

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center now report on a clinical trial of a new psoriasis drug called etanercept. Half of the group of 600 participants with moderate to severe psoriasis received the drug twice a week for 12 weeks and half received placebo. Etanercept was better than placebo in relieving psoriasis symptoms. It also reduced depression and fatigue. In other words, etanercept looks as if it may be a good all-round treatment for those with psoriasis.

Source
The Lancet online 15th December 2005

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