Biological Agents for Psoriasis Management in HIV-Positive Patients: A Literature Review

Abstract

The management of HIV-positive psoriasis patients places a heavy burden on the healthcare system, as there are no standard treatment regimens for these patients and the use of biologics has only been reported sporadically. Here, we conducted a systematic review over the past six years and identified 22 articles containing 34 patients treated with inhibitors against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-12/23, IL-17, or IL-23. Our analysis focuses on the effectiveness and safety profile of biological agents, highlighting IL-23 inhibitor’s superior clinical response and tolerability for plaque psoriasis in concomitant HIV-positive patients. Therefore, we suggest IL-23 inhibitor as a promising treatment option for moderate-to-severe psoriasis in HIV-positive patients.