A RECENT large-scale study published in a dermatology journal provides important insights into the cardiovascular safety of biologic therapies for patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis (PsA). With biologic treatments increasingly utilized in managing psoriatic disease, understanding their impact on risks of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and venous thromboembolic events (VTE) is critical for healthcare professionals.
The study analyzed 32,098 biologic-naïve patients with psoriasis or PsA using data from the TriNetX Research Network. Patients were categorized based on their first biologic prescription between 2014 and 2022, creating propensity-matched cohorts for comparisons of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) with interleukin-17 inhibitors (IL-17i), IL-12/23 inhibitors, and IL-23 inhibitors.
The findings revealed no significant differences in the risks of MACE or VTE across all treatment groups. This lack of variance held true in subgroup analyses for both psoriasis and PsA patients. Additionally, in patients with pre-existing hyperlipidemia or diabetes mellitus, newer biologics (IL-17i, IL-12/23i, and IL-23i) demonstrated lower risks of MACE and VTE compared to TNFi, suggesting potential benefits in higher-risk populations.
While the results are promising, the study noted a key limitation: the lack of data on psoriasis severity. Despite this, the findings provide valuable evidence to guide clinical decision-making and promote pharmacovigilance.
For healthcare professionals managing psoriatic disease, these results may offer reassurance about the cardiovascular safety of newer biologics relative to traditional TNFi therapies. The study emphasizes the importance of individualized treatment planning, particularly for patients with cardiovascular comorbidities.
Reference: Chen TL et al. Risk of Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events and Venous Thromboembolic Events Between Patients With Psoriasis or Psoriatic Arthritis on Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors, Interleukin-17 Inhibitors, Interleukin-12/23 Inhibitors and Interleukin-23 Inhibitors: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis. JAAD. 2025. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2024.12.025.
Anaya Malik | AMJ
