The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved Remicade(r) for reducing the signs and symptoms of active arthritis in patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Nearly 30 percent of the more than four million people with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis, which can result in swollen, painful joints and scaly, inflamed skin. Most people who develop psoriatic arthritis begin to experience arthritis symptoms approximately 10 years after skin symptoms appear.

Psoriatic Arthritis can be difficult to diagnose, but early diagnosis and proper treatment are key for preventing long-term damage to joints and tissue.

Remicade (Infliximab) works by blocking the immune system’s overproduction of a protein (TNF-alpha), which is an underlying cause of a number of auto-immune diseases. Remicade targets and neutralizes TNF-alpha to relieve painful symptoms.

Remicade is currently approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Crohn’s disease and Ankylosing Spondylitis.

Reference - Medical News Today, Remicade

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