The Potential Benefits of Certolizumab Pegol in Patients with Concurrent Psoriatic Arthritis and Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: A Case Series and Review of the Literature

INTRODUCTION: We review the literature evaluating certolizumab in psoriasis and report our experience of treatment outcomes in a joint dermatology and rheumatology clinic. METHODS: Patients with concomitant psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis who had been commenced on certolizumab were included within our retrospective review. Data was collected for patient demographics, Patient Area and Severity Index (PASI), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and previous treatments. The literature was systematically searched using Pubmed and Scopus. RESULTS: Very recent results from the CIMPASI-1 and CIMPASI-2 studies have demonstrated the high efficacy of certolizumab in the treatment of psoriasis at both week 16 and 48. Pooled results from these studies showed a PASI75 at week 16 and week 48 of 82% and 83.6% respectively, in the certolizumab 400 mg group. In our cohort of eight patients (two female; six male; median age 49 and mean PASI of 20.8) all had failed at least two systemic non-biologic agents. Objective improvements were observed in seven patients, with five achieving PASI90 and two demonstrating either PASI75 or PASI50. CONCLUSION: Certolizumab is efficacious in both psoriasis and PsA, including in patients who are biologic failures, and could be considered as an alternative treatment modality.