Psoriatic disease and tuberculosis nowadays.

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Immunology
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin and joint disease with a global prevalence of 2-3%.
• Psoriasis is increasingly associated with comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.
• Biologic agents, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors, are advanced psoriasis therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the increased risk of active tuberculosis in psoriasis patients undergoing biologic therapy.
• To emphasize the importance of tuberculosis screening and treatment prior to initiating tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on psoriasis, biologic therapies, and tuberculosis associations.
• Analysis of the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in Mycobacterium tuberculosis control.
• Evaluation of clinical imperatives for tuberculosis screening in psoriasis patients.

Main Results:

• Tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors can reactivate latent tuberculosis infection.
• Active surveillance and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection reduce incident tuberculosis cases.
• Exclusion of active tuberculosis is a critical step before initiating biologic therapy.

Conclusions:

• Psoriasis management requires careful consideration of infectious disease risks, particularly tuberculosis.
• Proactive screening and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection are essential for patient safety during advanced psoriasis therapy.
• The association between psoriasis therapies and tuberculosis underscores the need for comprehensive patient evaluation.