The Use of Apremilast to Treat Psoriasis During Deployment

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated dermatologic disorder affecting approximately 2% of the general population. Under current U.S. Army regulation, the diagnosis of psoriasis is a bar to enlistment or appointment and, if poorly controlled, is grounds for referral to a Medical Evaluation Board and potential discharge from military service, according to Army Regulation 40-501. However, between 2008 and 2015, over 3,600 soldiers sought care for psoriasis while deployed to combat theaters, indicating that psoriasis remains a significant medical concern in the U.S. military. Although mild psoriasis is treatable with topical agents, moderate to severe psoriasis may require systemic treatment. Prior to Food and Drug Administration approval of apremilast (Otezla) in 2014, the standard systemic treatment options were methotrexate and biologic agents such as anti-Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha medications. Active use of methotrexate or biologic immunomodulatory medications automatically disqualifies soldiers from deployment due to monitoring requirements, the need for refrigeration, and the risk for immune compromise. Apremilast offers treatment efficacy similar to that of methotrexate, and it may be taken while deployed because it does not require monitoring or refrigeration. However, efficacy must be evaluated in the context of its much higher unit cost. Nonetheless, we argue that apremilast may be a useful treatment option for psoriasis in a select group of soldiers who must deploy despite suffering from moderate to severe psoriasis.