Clinical approach to skin eruptions induced by anti-TNF agents among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: insights from a multidisciplinary IBD-DERMA clinic

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Skin eruptions are prevalent among patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), often associated with therapies and frequently leading to dermatological consults and treatment interruptions. We aimed to assess the impact of joint shared decision-making in a multidisciplinary (MDT) IBD-DERMA clinic. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study assessed a consecutive group of patients with IBD who were referred for consultation in an MDT clinic at a tertiary referral center in Israel. RESULTS: Over 1 year, 118 patients were evaluated in the MDT-IBD-DERMA clinic: 68 (57.6%) males; age – 35.2 ± 13.5 years, disease duration – 7.1 (interquartile range: 3.7–13.9) years; Crohn’s disease – 94/118 (79.6%). Skin eruption induced by an anti–tumor necrosis factor (TNF) were the most common diagnoses [46/118 (39%)], including psoriasiform dermatitis (PD) – 31/46 (67.4%) and inflammatory alopecia (IA) – 15/46 (32.6%). Of these, 18 patients (39.1%) continued the anti-TNF agent concomitantly with a topical or systemic anti-inflammatory agent to control the eruption. The remaining 28 patients (60.9%) discontinued the anti-TNF, of whom 16/28 (57.1%) switched to ustekinumab. These strategies effectively treated the majority [38/46 (82.6%)] of patients. Continuation of the anti-TNF was possible in a significantly higher proportion of patients with PD: 12/31 (38.7%) than only one in the IA group, p = 0.035. There was a higher switch to ustekinumab among the IA 7/15 (46.6%) compared with the PD 7/31 (22.6%) group, P = .09. Following IBD-DERMA advised intervention, IBD deteriorated in 9/4 6(19.5%) patients, 5/9 on ustekinumab (PD versus IA, P = NS). CONCLUSION: Shared decision-making in an integrated IBD-DERMA clinic allowed successful control of skin eruptions while preserving control of the underlying IBD in more than 80% of cases. Patients with IA profited from a switch to ustekinumab.