Efficacy of glucagon-like peptide 1 analogues in psoriasis: A cohort study

Obesity-related metabolic inflammation contributes to psoriasis pathogenesis and is associated with reduced therapeutic response.

To investigate whether treatment with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analogs improves skin disease in patients who have obesity with psoriasis.

Consecutive patients with psoriasis eligible for GLP-1 analog therapy (body mass index ≥27) were enrolled. A comparator cohort comprised patients who have obesity with psoriasis who did not receive GLP-1 therapy. The primary outcomes were the proportion of patients achieving an investigator's global assessment score of 0/1, and the correlation between weight reduction and improvement in skin disease.

An investigator's global assessment 0/1 response was achieved by 16 of 36 patients (44.4%) in the GLP-1 group compared with 7 of 58 patients (12.1%) in the control group (P < .001). Greater weight loss correlated with a more rapid response (τ = -0.59; P < .001). Among patients receiving biologic therapy, the addition of GLP-1 treatment was associated with superior response rates (P = .029).

GLP-1 receptor agonists demonstrated efficacy in patients who have obesity with psoriasis and may represent a therapeutic alternative for individuals in whom conventional systemic or biologic therapies are contraindicated, or in those who prefer a non-immunomodulatory approach.