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Biologics for Psoriasis During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Huanhuan Zeng1, Siyu Wang2, Ling Chen3

  • 1School of Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.

Frontiers in Medicine
|December 23, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Patients with psoriasis using biologics should continue treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stopping biologics is not recommended, and vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is advised, with careful risk-benefit assessment.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Immunology

Background:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has raised concerns regarding the management of chronic conditions like psoriasis, particularly the use of biologic therapies.
  • Understanding the interplay between psoriasis, biologic treatments, and SARS-CoV-2 infection is crucial for clinical decision-making.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge on psoriasis, biologic treatments, and COVID-19.
  • To provide guidance for dermatologists and patients on managing psoriasis during the pandemic, including vaccination considerations.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of available research on COVID-19 in patients with psoriasis on biologic therapy.
  • Analysis of data regarding infection risk, disease prognosis, and vaccine efficacy in this population.

Main Results:

  • Current evidence suggests that biologic agents do not increase the risk of coronavirus infection.
  • Biologic therapies have not shown adverse effects on the prognosis of patients with psoriasis who contract COVID-19.
  • Discontinuation of biologics is generally not recommended to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Conclusions:

  • Patients with psoriasis on biologic treatment should not routinely stop therapy due to COVID-19 concerns.
  • For patients who test positive for SARS-CoV-2, pausing biologic therapy should be individualized based on risk-benefit assessment.
  • Vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is strongly recommended for patients with psoriasis, with a mandatory pre-vaccination evaluation of the risk-benefit ratio for continuing biologics.

Keywords:
COVID-19IL17IL23SARS-CoV2TNFbiologicspsoriasisvaccination

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