Background and objectives: Biological treatment is an important and effective therapy for psoriasis. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains unclear whether this type of therapy affects the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of the study was to observe patients with psoriasis undergoing biological or other systemic treatment in relation to the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on the course of psoriasis and the COVID-19 disease itself. Materials and methods: A one-year observational study included 57 patients with diagnosed psoriasis who qualified for biological treatment and a group of 68 similar patients who were administered a different systemic treatment. Patients were analyzed monthly for psoriasis (including Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) assessment) and constantly for SARS-CoV-2 infection (telephone contact). Cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) at the study center. Results : SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by a positive Real Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test in eight patients (14.0%) with psoriasis on biological therapy. None of the cases in this group required hospitalization for COVID-19. Similar data were obtained in the control group. Specifically, 11 (16%) patients were confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. These results were statistically comparable ( p > 0.05). In the group of patients undergoing biological treatment, six (75%) of eight patients developed an exacerbation of psoriasis during SARS-CoV-2 infection, and similar results were noted in the control group, with eight (72%) patients experiencing an exacerbation of psoriasis. Conclusions : Patients with psoriasis who were administered biological treatment or other systemic therapy may experience a mild course of SARS-CoV-2 infection but might also experience a temporary exacerbation of skin lesions.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, biological drugs, 【초록키워드】 Treatment, therapy, Hospitalization, SARS-COV-2 infection, COVID-19 pandemic, RT-PCR, COVID-19 disease, PCR, Patient, Mild, Biological, skin lesions, index, control group, reaction, chain, effective therapy, material, positive, telephone contact, Administered, Affect, time, observé, Course, Result, analyzed, diagnosed, required, eight, comparable, Area, statistically, infected with SARS-CoV-2, 【제목키워드】 SARS-CoV-2, drug, Biological, influence,