Commentary: Risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 infection in patients with chronic plaque psoriasis receiving a biological treatment and renal transplanted recipients in maintenance immunosuppressive treatment.

COMMENTARY

The treatment of patients with psoriasis has been challenged by the COVID 19 pandemic. In March 2020, with a lack of data allowing an evidence-based approach, IPC formulated a statement urging physicians to discontinue immunosuppressive treatments in patients with active COVID-19 disease.  For psoriasis patients with no signs or symptoms of COVID-19, decisions about continuing treatment needed to be taken on a case by case basis, balancing risk with benefit.

I would like to draw your attention to a publication by Paulo Gisondi from Verona on the risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 in psoriatic patients receiving biological treatments (980 patients) and renal transplant recipients on immunosuppressive treatment (247 patients).

No psoriatic patients were hospitalized or died for the reason of COVID 19 and only one kidney transplant recipient died. In the general population of Verona, 0.28% of the COVID-19 patients were hospitalized or died. The average age of the patients with psoriasis and renal transplant recipients was 56 and 57 years respectively.  39 % of the psoriasis patients were obese and 12% had diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The authors indicated several limitations of the study.  Nevertheless, the study provides important early information.

At present dermatologists are collecting information in COVID registries. IPC is pleased to be a partner on the PsoProtect registry for psoriasis and COVID-19 positive patients. Please consider submitting a case or cases to the registry as it is of utmost importance that we collect the data from patients with psoriasis suffering from COVID-19.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position of the International Psoriasis Council or its Board of Directors.