Secukinumab for the Treatment of Psoriasis in Pediatrics: Patient Selection and Acceptability

Abstract

Psoriasis (PsO) is a chronic, systemic, immune-mediated inflammatory skin disease affecting 1% to 5% population worldwide. In one-third of patients, the first symptoms of PsO manifest in childhood, with a mean age of nine years. Psoriasis in children under 16 years of age constitutes 4% of dermatological problems in this age group. Chronic inflammation of the skin observed in PsO is associated with a development of potentially serious comorbidities, including psoriatic arthritis, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory bowel disease, depression and anxiety. It is reported that among children with psoriasis between 5 and 16 years of age health-related quality of life is reduced by 30.5%. Early diagnosis and effective treatment are crucial in pediatric psoriatic patients to avoid future complications and stigmatization. Treatment for psoriasis consists of a range of topical medications, phototherapy and non-biologic and biologic systemic therapies. Approved biologics for PsO in pediatric patients include etanercept, adalimumab, ustekinumab, ixekizumab and secukinumab. Secukinumab, a recombinant, fully human monoclonal antibody targeting IL-17A, was approved by the EMA (2020) and FDA (2021) in pediatric patients above 6 years of age for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who are candidates for systemic therapy. This review discusses the selection and acceptability of secukinumab in children with psoriasis.

Keywords: acceptability; pediatric psoriasis; psoriasis vulgaris; secukinumab.

Figure 1

Administration of secukinumab algorithm.