Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate the status of continuation of treatment of our patients who received biologic treatment during the pandemic and how they were affected by coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Material and Methods: The clinical processes of patients with moderate-severe plaque psoriasis who were treated with biologics between March 2020 and February 2021 were evaluated. Results: Thirty-three (21.2%) of our 156 psoriasis patients who received biologic therapy stopped treatment at the beginning of the pandemic. Fourteen of the 123 patients who were continuing the treatment were positive for COVID-19. One of the 33 psoriasis patients who stopped biologic treatment was positive for COVID-19. There was no statistical difference between those who continued with biologic treatment and those who did not in the rates of positivity for COVID19 after contact with a COVID-19 positive person, and frequency of severe symptoms (p=0.607, p=1.00, respectively). In terms of the difference between the mean of Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) scores at the onset of the pandemic and the mean of PASI scores at the 12th month, there was no statistical difference between those who were positive for COVID-19 and those who did not (p=0.782). Conclusion: We have observed that the treatment with biologic agents in psoriasis patients does not increase the COVID-19 transmission risk, does not cause severe disease, and does not increase the hospitalization rate and mortality rate.
Keywords: COVID-19; biological therapy; psoriasis; Psoriasis Area Severity Index
Amaç: Çalışmamızın amacı, pandemi döneminde biyolojik tedavi alan hastalarımızın tedavisine devam etme durumunu ve koronavirüs hastalığı-2019'dan [coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)] nasıl etkilendiklerini değerlendirmektir. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Orta-şiddetli plak psöriyazisli biyolojik tedavi kullanan hastaların Mart 2020-Şubat 2021 tarihleri arasındaki klinik süreçleri değerlendirildi. Bulgular: Biyolojik tedavi alan 156 psöriyazis hastamızın 33'ü (%21,2) pandeminin başlamasıyla tedaviyi bıraktı. Tedaviye devam eden 123 hastanın 14'ü COVID-19'a yakalandı. Biyolojik tedaviyi bırakan 33 psöriyazis hastasından biri COVID-19'a yakalandı. Biyolojik tedaviye devam edenler ile devam etmeyenler arasında COVID-19 pozitif bir kişiyle temas sonrası COVID-19'a yakalanma oranları ve şiddetli semptom görülme sıklığı arasında istatistiksel fark yoktu (sırasıyla p=0,607, p=1,00). Pandemi başlangıcındaki ortalama Psöriazis Alan Şiddet İndeksi [Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI)] skoru ile 12. aydaki ortalama PASI skoru arasındaki fark açısından COVID-19 pozitif olanlar ile olmayanlar arasında istatistiksel bir fark yoktu (p=0,782). Sonuç: Psöriyazis hastalarında biyolojik tedavi kullanımının COVID-19 bulaşma riskini artırmadığını, ağır hastalığa neden olmadığını, hastaneye yatış ve ölüm oranını artırmadığını gözlemledik.
Anahtar Kelimeler: COVID-19; biyolojik tedavi; psöriyazis; Psöriazis Alan Şiddet İndeksi
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