Abstract

COMPARISON OF RELAPSE RATES IN SYSTEMIC PSORIATIC TREATMENTS

Bhuvaneswari Sapavathu*, Jeffrey B. Travers and Craig A. Rohan

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Abstract

Psoriasis is an autoimmune skin disease which affects approximately 100 million people worldwide. The treatment of psoriasis has been revolutionized using biologic medications which target key pathologic cytokines. Though effective, lapses in all types of therapies can often result in skin disease relapse. In this review, data is presented comparing the time of relapse following stopping of common psoriatic therapies. Findings from the literature indicate that the therapeutics which target IL-23 has been associated to the longest period of relapse. The likely mechanisms for time of relapse including half-life of the drug are addressed. Finally, potential interventions that can modulate the time of therapeutic relapse including topical agents as well as oral vitamin D are discussed. An enhanced understanding of the time of relapse of therapeutics used for psoriasis as well as strategies to extend the relapse can result in improved treatments for people suffering with psoriasis.

Keywords: psoriasis, relapse, autoimmune, proinflammatory cytokine, IL-23, PGA, PASI, remission.