The Frequency of COVID-19 Infection in Psoriasis Patients Treated with Immunosuppressive and Immunomodulatory Drugs

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Assistant Professor, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences ,Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Skin Diseases and Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Dermatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences ,Isfahan, Iran

3 General Practitioner, Department of Dermatology, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Psoriasis patients treated with immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs are at higher risk of infections, as infections can also trigger psoriasis. The aim of this study is to investigate the rate of COVID-19 infection with different severity of symptoms in psoriasis patients treated with immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted during the summer of 2021 in Isfahan city. The studied population comprised psoriasis patients with electronic medical records in Siddiqa Tahereh Medical Center and Al-Zahra Hospital. Phone interviews were conducted with patients to gather information on the duration of psoriasis disease, drug used, dosage, history of COVID-19 infection, disease severity (hospitalization, mortality) and the recurrence or exacerbation of psoriasis following COVID-19 infection.
Findings: 38% of psoriasis patients treated with immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs were infected with COVID-19, 75% were outpatients and 23.5% were hospitalized. Of the psoriatic patients, 39% treated with Methotrexate (MTX), 40% treated with Adalimumab, and 48% treated with Infliximab reported a history of COVID-19 disease. psoriasis recurrence following COVID-19 was observed in 22% of patients. The most history of infection with COVID-19 was reported in psoriasis patients treated with Infliximab, Adalimumab, and MTX, respectively.
Conclusion: By suppressing the immune system and reducing its function, immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs can directly increase COVID-19 risk and severity in psoriasis patients.

Keywords

Main Subjects


  1. Rendon A, Schäkel K. Psoriasis pathogenesis and treatment. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20(6): 1475.
  2. Kim WB, Jerome D, Yeung J. Diagnosis and management of psoriasis. Can Fam Physician 2017; 63(4): 278-85.
  3. Kamiya K, Kishimoto M, Sugai J, Komine M, Ohtsuki M. Risk factors for the development of psoriasis. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20(18): 4347.
  4. Baliwag J, Barnes DH, Johnston A. Cytokines in psoriasis. Cytokine 2015; 73(2): 342-50.
  5. Ogawa E, Sato Y, Minagawa A, Okuyama R. Pathogenesis of psoriasis and development of treatment. J Dermatol 2018; 45(3): 264-72.
  6. Dogra S, Mahajan R. Psoriasis: Epidemiology, clinical features, co-morbidities, and clinical scoring. Indian Dermatol Online J 2016; 7(6): 471-80.
  7. Griffiths CEM, Van der Walt JM, Ashcroft DM, Flohr C, Naldi L, Nijsten T, et al. The global state of psoriasis disease epidemiology: a workshop report. Br J Dermatol 2017; 177(1): e4-7.
  8. Ceccarelli M, Venanzi Rullo E, Vaccaro M, Facciolà A, d'Aleo F, Paolucci IA, et al. HIV-associated psoriasis: Epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management. Dermatol Ther 2019; 32(2): e12806.
  9. Napolitano M, Megna M, Balato A, Ayala F, Lembo S, Villani A, et al. Systemic treatment of pediatric psoriasis: a review. Dermatol Ther (Heidelb) 2016; 6(2): 125-42.
  10. Bedoui Y, Guillot X, Sélambarom J, Guiraud P, Giry C, Jaffar-Bandjee MC, et al. Methotrexate an old drug with new tricks. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20(20): 5023.
  11. Hannoodee M, Mittal M. Methotrexate. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023.
  12. Golbari NM, Porter ML, Kimball AB. Current guidelines for psoriasis treatment: a work in progress. Cutis 2018; 101(3S): 10-2.
  13. Menter A, Strober BE, Kaplan DH, Kivelevitch D, Prater EF, Stoff B, et al. Joint AAD-NPF guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with biologics. J Am Acad Dermatol 2019; 80(4): 1029-72.
  14. Colombo D, Chimenti S, Grossi P, Marchesoni A, Di Nuzzo S, Griseta V, et al. Prevalence of past and reactivated viral infections and efficacy of cyclosporine A as monotherapy or in combination in patients with psoriatic arthritis--synergy study: a longitudinal observational study. Biomed Res Int 2014; 2014: 941767.
  15. He F, Deng Y, Li W. Coronavirus disease 2019: What we know? J Med Virol 2020; 92(7): 719-25.
  16. World Health Organization. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): situation report, 59. Geneva, Switzerland: WHO; 2020.
  17. Abhishek A, Boyton RJ, Peckham N, McKnight Á, Coates LC, Bluett J, et al. Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial. Lancet Respir Med 2022; 10(9): 840-50.
  18. Kutlu Ö, Metin A. Dermatological diseases presented before COVID-19: Are patients with psoriasis and superficial fungal infections more vulnerable to the COVID-19? Dermatol Ther 2020; 33(4): e13509.
  19. Michiels Y, Houhou-Fidouh N, Collin G, Berger J, Kohli E. Impact of low-dose methotrexate-adalimumab combination therapy on the antibody response induced by the mRNA-1273 SARS-CoV-2 vaccine: Case of an elderly patient with rheumatoid arthritis. Vaccines (Basel) 2021; 9(8): 883.
  20. Sadeghinia A, Daneshpazhooh M. Immunosuppressive drugs for patients with psoriasis during the COVID-19 pandemic era. A review. Dermatol Ther 2021; 34(1): e14498.
  21. Conforti C, Giuffrida R, Dianzani C, Di Meo N, Zalaudek I. COVID‐19 and psoriasis: is it time to limit treatment with immunosuppressants? A call for action. Dermatol Ther 2020; 33(4): e13298.
  22. Elmas ÖF, Demirbaş A, Kutlu Ö, Bağcıer F, Metin MS, Özyurt K, et al. Psoriasis and COVID‐19: a narrative review with treatment considerations. Dermatol Ther 2020; 33(6): e13858.
  23. Nogueira M, Vender R, Torres T. Psoriasis, biologic therapy, and the pandemic of the 21st century. Drugs Context 2020; 9: 2020-4-10.
  24. Coletto LA, Favalli EG, Caporali R. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: How to manage immunosuppressants in COVID‐19 days. Dermatol Ther 2020; 33(4): e13415.
  25. Khalagi K, Gharibzadeh S, Khalili D, Mansournia MA, Mirab Samiee S, Aghamohamadi S, et al. Prevalence of COVID-19 in Iran: results of the first survey of the Iranian COVID-19 Serological Surveillance programme. Clin Microbiol Infect 2021; 27(11): 1666-71.
  26. Poustchi H, Darvishian M, Mohammadi Z, Shayanrad A, Delavari A, Bahadorimonfared A, et al. SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in the general population and high-risk occupational groups across 18 cities in Iran: a population-based cross-sectional study. Lancet Infect Dis 2021; 21(4): 473-81.
  27. Darvishian M, Sharafkhah M, Poustchi H, Malekzadeh R. Estimates of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in Iran-Authors' reply. Lancet Infect Dis 2021; 21(5): 604-5.
  28. Ghafari M, Kadivar A, Katzourakis A. Estimates of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody seroprevalence in Iran. Lancet Infect Dis 2021; 21(5): 602-3.
  29. Shakiba M, Nazemipour M, Salari A, Mehrabian F, Nazari SSH, Rezvani SM, et al. Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in guilan province, Iran, April 2020. Emerg Infect Dis 2021; 27(2): 636-8.
  30. Khorrami Z, Nili S, Sharifi H, Eybpoosh S, Shokoohi M. Association of cigarette smoking, obesity, and underlying medical conditions with COVID‐19 hospitalization and mortality in Iran: A nationwide retrospective ecological study. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2020; 34: 133.
  31. Verity R, Okell LC, Dorigatti I, Winskill P, Whittaker C, Imai N, et al. Estimates of the severity of coronavirus disease 2019: a model-based analysis. Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20(6): 669-77.
  32. Baud D, Qi X, Nielsen-Saines K, Musso D, Pomar L, Favre G. Real estimates of mortality following COVID-19 infection. Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20(7): 773.
  33. Spychalski P, Błażyńska-Spychalska A, Kobiela J. Estimating case fatality rates of COVID-19. Lancet Infect Dis 2020; 20(7): 774-5.
Volume 41, Issue 722
2nd Week, August
July and August 2023
Pages 438-445
  • Receive Date: 29 December 2021
  • Revise Date: 08 August 2023
  • Accept Date: 21 June 2023