Terapia dei pazienti psoriasici con infezione da virus epatitico C: raccomandazioni per un trattamento con anti TNF-alpha

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the setting of psoriasis, which is not rare to encounter in clinical practice, poses a number of therapeutic dilemmas to the caring physician. The main concern is the potential of immunosuppressive therapies, including biologic agents, to exacerbate the hepatic disease. To date, approximately 15 patients, with various diseases and associated HCV infection, who were treated with the anti-TNF-alpha agent infliximab have been reported in the literature. Although no significant changes in viral load and hepatitis were observed, it should be noted that in all these studies the duration of treatment and follow-up was relatively short. Hereby, we underscore the importance of recommendations for a long-term therapy.