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Observational Study
. 2021 Aug 27;57(9):881.
doi: 10.3390/medicina57090881.

Influence of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection on the Course of Psoriasis during Treatment with Biological Drugs

Magdalena Mroz  1 , Szymon Mućka  1 , Martyna Miodońska  1 , Dominika Ziolkowska  1 , Ewa Hadas  1 , Andrzej Bożek  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Influence of SARS-CoV-2 Virus Infection on the Course of Psoriasis during Treatment with Biological Drugs

Magdalena Mroz et al. Medicina (Kaunas). .

Abstract

Background and objectives: Biological treatment is an important and effective therapy for psoriasis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains unclear whether this type of therapy affects the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the study was to observe patients with psoriasis undergoing biological or other systemic treatment in relation to the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the course of psoriasis and the COVID-19 disease itself. Materials and methods: A one-year observational study included 57 patients with diagnosed psoriasis who qualified for biological treatment and a group of 68 similar patients who were administered a different systemic treatment. Patients were analyzed monthly for psoriasis (including Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) assessment) and constantly for SARS-CoV-2 infection (telephone contact). Cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) at the study center. Results: SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by a positive Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test in eight patients (14.0%) with psoriasis on biological therapy. None of the cases in this group required hospitalization for COVID-19. Similar data were obtained in the control group. Specifically, 11 (16%) patients were confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. These results were statistically comparable (p > 0.05). In the group of patients undergoing biological treatment, six (75%) of eight patients developed an exacerbation of psoriasis during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and similar results were noted in the control group, with eight (72%) patients experiencing an exacerbation of psoriasis. Conclusions: Patients with psoriasis who were administered biological treatment or other systemic therapy may experience a mild course of SARS-CoV-2 infection but might also experience a temporary exacerbation of skin lesions.

Keywords: COVID-19; biological drugs; psoriasis; psoriatic arthritis.

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Conflict of interest statement

All authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient before COVID-19 during biological therapy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The same patient just after SARS-Co-V-2 infection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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