Risk of Herpes Zoster Among Psoriasis Patients Taking Biologics: A Network Meta-Analysis of Cohort Studies

Anti-Herpes zoster vaccination in patients with dermatologic diseases: a position statement from the Italian SIDeMaST group of sexually transmitted, infectious and tropical diseases

Herpes zoster (HZ) is a condition caused by the reactivation of varicella-zoster virus (VZV), the virus responsible for chickepox, which is the clinical manifestation of the primary infection. Congenital or acquired immune system deficiencies, as well as the physiological decline in immune response occurring in the elderly, known as immune senescence, can allow VZV reactivation and, consequently, HZ. One out of 3 people develops HZ during their lifetime. Moreover, thirty percent of the affected subjects develop post-herpetic neuralgia, the most frequent complication after HZ skin rash. Patients with dermatological conditions characterized by alteration of the immune system, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, bullous diseases, and cutaneous lymphomas, are at higher risk of developing HZ and post-herpetic neuralgia, even when their disease is in remission. In the present work, we described the currently available vaccinations against HZ and provided recommendations for the vaccination against HZ in patients with dermatological diseases.

Incidence of New-Onset Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Oral and Gastrointestinal Candidiasis, Herpes Zoster, Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and Major Cardiovascular Events in Patients with Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis Exposed to Biologics

The multicenter, retrospective cohort study was aimed at examining adverse events in biologic-treated patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis by using a real-world database. Thus, we analyzed exposure-adjusted incidence rates for new-onset inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), oral and gastrointestinal candidiasis, pulmonary tuberculosis, herpes zoster, and major cardiovascular events (MACEs) in biologic-treated patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Overall, 2085 patients were found to have been exposed to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-12/23, IL-17, and IL-23 inhibitors (n = 463, 540, 635, and 447, respectively). No patient developed new-onset IBD. The incidence rates of oral and gastrointestinal candidiasis were comparable between patients treated with IL-23 and IL-17 inhibitors (5.6 and 5.3 per 1000 PY, respectively). None treated with IL-17 or IL-23 inhibitors reported pulmonary tuberculosis. The incidence rate of herpes zoster was the highest in patients treated with TNF-α inhibitors (17.0 per 1000 PY), followed by IL-17, IL-23, and IL-12/23 inhibitors (13.3, 7.8, and 2.7 per 1000 PY, respectively). MACEs were not reported in patients treated with IL-17 inhibitors but were reported in those treated with TNF-α, IL-23, and IL-12/23 inhibitors (incidence: 5.6, 3.8, and 1.8 per 1000 PY, respectively). The study indicated favorable safety profiles of biologics in Korean patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

Pathogenesis-oriented therapy of psoriasis using biologics

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis is currently regarded an immune-mediated inflammatory disease. The central pathogenic axis comprises interleukin-23, TH17-lymphocytes differentiating under its influence, and interleukin-17A as a key effector cytokine of these T-lymphocytes. All of these can selectively be targeted using biological therapies, thus potentially increasing efficacy and reducing adverse events when compared to conventional systemic therapeutics.

AREAS COVERED

We review the current concept of psoriasis as an immune-mediated inflammatory disease, assessing the evidence for a role of elements of the innate and adaptive immune system. We then correlate the pharmacological effects of biologics in psoriasis in light of the known physiologic as well as pathophysiological role of the respective targets. This is done on the basis of an extensive literature search of publications since 2018 which describe the role of the above-mentioned elements in health and disease or the effects of blocking these as an attempt to treat psoriasis.

EXPERT OPINION

Biologics targeting the above-mentioned central pathogenic axis provide a particularly effective and safe way to treat psoriasis. Given the impact of comorbidities on therapeutic decision-making, and the efficacy of some biologics also on certain comorbidities, these drugs represent a first step toward personalized medicine in the management of psoriasis.

Biological drugs for systemic lupus erythematosus or active lupus nephritis and rates of infectious complications. Evidence from large clinical trials

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease that frequently affects the kidneys, known as lupus nephritis (LN). Such patients are treated with antimalarials, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs, and more recently, target-specific biological drugs. Although efficacy of these therapies improved SLE-related outcomes, SLE remains associated with higher rates of infections. Here, we performed a comprehensive systemic review of infectious complications in clinical trials covering drug interventions for SLE or specifically for active LN. Our search in 15 online registries yielded a total of 1477 studies of which 14 matched our prespecified criteria. These covered the biological drugs anifrolumab, belimumab, and rituximab that were tested in patients with non-renal SLE and active LN.The available safety data from the SLE trials indicated that infectious complications such as herpes zoster, upper respiratory tract infection, nasopharyngitis, bronchitis, and urinary tract infection in patients receiving placebo were quite prevalent especially in the EXPLORER (rituximab) trial. Infections occurred mostly during the first year of LN therapy. Serious adverse events and infectious complications occurred more frequently in placebo-treated patients with active LN, especially in the BLISS-LN (belimumab) and LUNAR (rituximab) trials. Anifrolumab and rituximab increased the number of clinically relevant episodes of herpes zoster compared to belimumab in patients with active LN. Anifrolumab displayed a similar trend for influenza infections, which is consistent with the specific mechanisms-of-action of anifrolumab; highlighting drug-specific effects on infectious complications. In addition, standard-of-care therapy, e.g., MMF and immunosuppressants, as well as a longer SLE duration may also affect the incidence of serious adverse events and certain infectious complications in SLE patients with active LN.Infectious complications are common in SLE but even more common in patients with active LN, especially herpes zoster is strongly associated with active LN and anifrolumab therapy (OR 2.8, 95% CI 1.18 to 6.66, p = 0.018). Immunotherapy seems to impose unspecific and specific risks for infections. The latter may imply specific precautions such as preemptive vaccination and individual risk-benefit assessments.

Incidence, risk factors, and consequences of human alphaherpesvirus infections in patients with psoriasis who initiate methotrexate or biologic agents

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressive agents may increase the risk of infections with human alphaherpesviruses.

METHODS

We included all adult patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who initiated methotrexate (MTX) or biologic agents in a retrospective cohort study. An episode of alphaherpesviruses infection was defined as filling a prescription for systemic acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir. Using nation-wide registries, we determined the incidence, risk factors, 180-days hospital contacts, and 30-days mortality following infection.

RESULTS

We included 7,294 patients; 4,978 (68%) received MTX, and 2,316 (32%) biologic agents. The incidence rates [95% CI] of alphaherpesviruses were 23 [20-27], 26 [19-35], 17 [11-27] and 6.7 [1.3-21] per 1000 PYFU in patients on MTX, TNFα-, IL-12/23-, and IL-17 inhibitors, respectively. Males had an unadjusted HR of 0.47 (P < 0.001) for alphaherpesvirus infection. Patients on IL-17 inhibitors had an adjusted HR of 0.24 (P = 0.048) compared to TNFα inhibitors. Within 180-days after infection, 13%, 7.5%, and <0.5% of patients on MTX, TNFα inhibitors, and IL-12/23 or IL-17 inhibitors, respectively, had hospital contacts, and the 30-days mortality for all groups was <0.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence and risk of alphaherpesvirus infections was comparable between patients on MTX and TNFα inhibitors, while use of IL-17 inhibitors was associated with a lower risk.

Comparative risk of herpes zoster in patients with psoriatic disease on systemic treatments: a systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background:

Numerous previous studies have examined risk of herpes zoster (HZ) in psoriatic disease; however, the results of these studies are conflicting and the relative risks associated with different treatments remain largely unknown. In this meta-analysis, we examined the relative risk of HZ associated with systemic treatments for psoriatic disease.

Methods:

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases were searched to identify relevant English-language studies published up to April 2021. Data were extracted using a standardized data extraction form. Network meta-analyses (NMA) was performed according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We examined the differences in HZ risk (incidence rate ratio; IRR) between treatments using a random-effects model for direct pairwise comparisons and NMA. The surface under the cumulative ranking area was calculated to rank the HZ risk for each treatment condition.

Results:

This study analyzed 13 studies including 19 treatment arms involving a total of 443,104 patients with psoriatic disease. Corticosteroids (CS) [IRR, 2.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.59–4.13], a Janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi; tofacitinib) (IRR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.03–5.32), infliximab (IRR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.27–4.21), conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) + CS (IRR, 2.26; 95% CI, 1.23–4.17), anti-tumor necrosis factor-α (anti-TNF-α) + csDMARDs and/or CS (IRR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.38–3.31), csDMARDs (IRR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.18–2.22), and anti-TNF-α except infliximab (IRR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.13–2.30) were all associated with a significantly higher HZ risk compared to controls. CS treatment possessed the highest HZ risk, followed by infliximab and JAKi (tofacitinib). Phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, anti-interleukin-17, -23 or -12/23, phototherapy, and acitretin showed a risk similar to controls without significant differences.

Conclusion:

The NMA demonstrated CS, infliximab, and JAKi (tofacitinib), and several combination treatments were associated with higher HZ risk in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Differences in HZ risk should be taken into consideration when considering optimal psoriasis treatment.