Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) in psoriatic arthritis: pathophysiology and treatment with TNF inhibitors

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Figure 1 .

Distal interphalangeal joint involvement in the fingers of a patient with arthritis mutilans, a severe form of psoriatic arthritis.

Figure 2 .

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) expression in a synovial membrane section from an affected joint of a patient with a severe form of psoriatic arthritis, arthritis mutilans (original magnification x600). The section was stained with a monoclonal antibody to TNF. Reproduced from Danning et al, 2000²⁷ with permission.

Figure 3 .

Neutralisation of TNF by soluble TNF receptors (sTNFR) or anti-TNF monoclonal antibody (mAb) prevents TNF binding to either the p55 or the p75 receptors.^{47, 64–67}

Figure 4 .

Clinical response as assessed by Psoriatic Arthritis Response Criteria (PsARC) in patients with PsA treated with etanercept or placebo. Adapted from Mease 2000¹ with permission.

Figure 5 .

Clinical response as assessed by American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria in patients with PsA treated with etanercept or placebo. ACR 20, 50, and 70 responses are defined as ≥20%, ≥50%, and ≥70% reductions, respectively, in tender and swollen joint counts and in three or more of the following: patient pain assessment, patient global assessment, doctor global assessment, patient disability assessment, and C reactive protein level. Adapted from Mease 2000¹ with permission.