Predictors of time to relapse following ustekinumab withdrawal in patients with psoriasis who had responded to therapy: An 8-year multicenter study

Background: Data on predictors and time to relapse in patients with psoriasis who discontinue therapy in a real-world setting are scarce. Objective: To investigate predictors of relapse after withdrawal of ustekinumab in patients with psoriasis. Method: This study screened 500 patients with psoriasis who received ustekinumab (669 treatment episodes) between 2011 and 2018. Overall, 202 patients (accounting for 304 treatment episodes) who had responded to therapy and were withdrawn from ustekinumab treatment were included. Results: The cumulative probabilities of being relapse-free at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months after withdrawal from ustekinumab treatment were 49.3%, 12.6%, 5.3%, 4.7%, and 1.6%, respectively. Multivariate regression analyses with a generalized estimating equation showed that after adjustments, biologic-naive status, maximum improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index during ustekinumab treatment, time to achieve a 50% improvement in baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score after initiation of ustekinumab, family history of psoriasis, chronic kidney disease, and immunosuppressant use while not taking ustekinumab were significant predictors of time to relapse following discontinuation of ustekinumab. Limitation: Nonrandomized allocation of duration of treatment and follow-up. Conclusion: Given the high rates of relapse, withdrawal of ustekinumab from patients with well-controlled psoriasis cannot be recommended. ( J Am Acad Dermatol 2023;88:71-8.)

Automated summary

This study investigates the predictors of relapse in psoriasis patients after discontinuation of ustekinumab treatment. The results show that being biologic-naive, maximum improvement in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index during ustekinumab treatment, time to achieve a 50% improvement in baseline Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score after initiation of ustekinumab, family history of psoriasis, chronic kidney disease, and immunosuppressant use while not taking ustekinumab are significant predictors of relapse time following discontinuation of ustekinumab.