Effects of secukinumab combined with tretinoin on metabolism, liver enzymes, and inflammatory factors in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis vulgaris

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a T cell-mediated polygenic chronic inflammatory disease.

Interleukin (IL)-17A plays a major role in psoriasis pathogenesis.

Secukinumab is a high-affinity human monoclonal antibody against IL-17A.

AIM: This article explored efficacy and safety of secukinumab plus tretinoin in moderate to severe psoriasis (MSP) vulgaris, and assessed metabolism, liver function, and inflammation.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 135 patients diagnosed with moderate or severe psoriasis vulgaris were enrolled and randomized into three groups at a 1 : 1 : 1 ratio, receiving treatment with rretinoin, secukinumab, or combination therapy for a duration of 16 weeks.

Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores, serum T lymphocyte subsets, glucose, lipid, and uric acid (UA) metabolism, liver enzymes, and inflammatory factors (IFs) were measured.

RESULTS: Following the therapy, subjects had decreased PASI scores, increased serum CD3+, CD4+, and CD4+/CD8+, decreased serum CD8+, and decreased serum UA and IL-2, IL-6, IL-23, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p < 0.05).

Total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein, high-density lipoprotein, apolipoproteins A1, B, fasting blood glucose, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase had no obvious differences among the subjects (p > 0.05).

As against the Tretinoin and the Secukinumab groups, the PASI score was visiblysmaller, the changes in serum T lymphocyte subsets were more obvious, and serum UA and IFs were lower in the Combination group following the therapy (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Secukinumab combined with tretinoin is more effective in MSP vulgaris, which can visibly reduce inflammatory response without affecting glucose and lipid metabolism and liver function.