Early relapse of psoriasis after stopping brodalumab: a retrospective cohort study in 77 patients

Biological agents targeting IL-17 are very effective for clearing moderate to severe psoriasis. There is limited information regarding the frequency and pattern of psoriasis relapse upon treatment cessation.

To investigate the pattern of psoriasis recurrence in patients who were treated with brodalumab following Amgen's decision to stop the clinical programme in June 2015.

Between June 2015 and March 2016, we constructed a retrospective multicenter cohort study including patients who were treated with brodalumab in Amgen's protocols after the abrupt interruption of the drug development programme. The relapse was defined as the request of patient to initiate a new treatment after brodalumab withdrawal.

Seventy-seven patients were followed up. At the time brodalumab treatment was stopped, 67 (87%) patients had reached PASI 90. After brodalumab discontinuation, all 77 patients relapsed after a follow-up of 9 months. The median time to relapse was 46 days (range 7-224 days). Concerning the type of relapse, 73 patients presented with plaque psoriasis, one patient presented with erythrodermic psoriasis, and three patients experienced pustular psoriasis. In seven patients who had no previous history of psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the relapse of psoriasis was associated with inflammatory joint pain suggestive of PsA. At week 36, eight patients who had a limited relapse were controlled with topical treatment, 43 patients received a biological agent, two patients were included in a clinical trial with an investigational drug and 15 patients were treated with conventional systemic agents.

Abrupt cessation of brodalumab is associated with a rapid relapse of psoriasis with some patients experiencing a rebound. It seems not advisable to stop treatment with IL-17 receptor antagonists abruptly even in patients who experience complete clearance of psoriasis.