Thrombocytopenia associated with the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor-alpha agents for psoriasis.

BACKGROUND

Thrombocytopenia has been reported to be associated with efalizumab therapy, but has only sporadically been reported with other anti-tumor necrosis factor alfa (TNF-alpha) agents.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the frequency of thrombocytopenia in a cohort of patients who underwent biological therapies for psoriasis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study of 93 patients.

RESULTS

One hundred eighteen courses of biological therapies were administered to 93 patients. Four of 67 patients who received anti-TNF-alpha agents developed drug-induced thrombocytopenia during treatment, compared with none of the 51 patients receiving efalizumab therapy. The platelet count recovered after suspension of anti-TNF-alpha agents in 3 patients and relapsed after re-exposure in two patients. The overall estimated frequency of thrombocytopenia in our cohort was 4.30% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0% to 6.2%).

LIMITATIONS: These findings should be validated in larger studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia is a potential side effect of anti-TNF-alpha agents. Immediate monitoring of platelet counts is recommended if autoimmunity is suspected.