Ng CY, et al. - The consequence of IL-12/23 blockade on the metabolic parameters was comprehensively explored in this study, in patients with psoriasis. Irrespective of enormous improvement in disease activity following the ustekinumab therapy, obesity, fasting sugar and hypertriglyceridemia persisted in such patients. The recommendations put forth were a regular screening of lipid profile, obesity control and smoking cessation, during the treatment of ustekinumab especially in male psoriatic patients with susceptibility towards cardiovascular risks.

Methods

• The scheme of this research was a retrospective cohort study.
• 93 consecutive patients with moderate to severe plaque type psoriasis were enrolled for this study.
• They received IL-12/23 blockade (ustekinumab) for 24 weeks between January 2012 and May 2016.
• Metabolic parameters and disease activity (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] score) were obtained at baseline and 24 weeks of treatment.

Results

• A substantial improvement was disclosed (P < 0.0001) in the disease activity, at week 24.
• Additionally, a marked reduction of erythrocyte sedimentation rate was yielded.
• The body mass index displayed prominent elevation in PASI-75 responders at week 24 of treatment and was independent of disease severity.
• Elevations were also noted in the fasting sugar and triglyceride levels, at week 24 in both PASI-75 responders and PASI-75 non-responders.
• There was no change in the cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels.
• There was no link between these metabolic parameters with the improvement in disease severity, after ustekinumab therapy.
• The atherogenic index, LDL/HDL ratio and cholesterol/HDL ratio, however, remained unchanged.
• Male sex and cigarette smoking served as predictors of elevated plasma triglyceride levels.