Abstract
Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an immune-mediated inflammatory disease of the skin and joints still poorly understood in pediatric patients. It has been reported a case report of PsA in a male infant patient in Paraiba state, Northeast Brazil. The goal of this study was describing a rare case of juvenile PsA and its management upon using classical and biologic treatment based on the drug etanercept. The patient was diagnosed with scales on the scalp, knees and other parts of the body and joint inflammation besides social behavior deficit since he was aged 5. Classical therapy to PsA including acitretrin and topical glucocorticoids did not ameliorate the illness symptoms. Then, the patient received the anti-TNF-α drug etanercept used to treat moderate to severe psoriasis and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Before the week 16 of the treatment was observed a strong remission of the symptoms which is related to the inhibition of the inflammatory response into skin and joints. Besides no side effects was observed during etanercept administration. This study indicates that anti-TNF-α therapy might be used to treat immune-mediated inflammation likely to PsA in pediatric patients.
Keywords: Juvenile patient, psoriatic arthritis, biologic therapy