Early IL-17 inhibitor intervention tied to quick response, disease modification in psoriasis

Early treatment with interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors accelerates response and fosters disease modification in patients with psoriasis, reveals a study.

The researchers sought to examine the potential of early intervention with IL-17 inhibitors for disease modification in psoriasis in this multicentre retrospective cohort study. Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis who received at least 4 weeks of treatment with secukinumab or ixekizumab between April 2019 and April 2023 were included in the analysis.

The primary endpoint was the relapse rate 1 year after cessation of treatment.

A total of 400 patients discontinued treatment after achieving Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 90 (PASI 90). The median relapse time was 3.29 months or approximately 14 weeks.

Some 141 patients stopped receiving treatment following achievement of PASI90 for over a year, of whom 24 (88.89 percent) in the ultra-short disease duration (psoriasis duration ≤1 year) group and 33 (82.5 percent) in the short disease duration (psoriasis duration ≤2 years) group attained drug-free remission at 1 year.

“Early intervention with IL-17 inhibitors leads to faster responses and may promote disease modification in psoriasis,” the researchers said.

The study, however, was limited by the lack of assessment on the potential impact of early intervention on comorbidity development.