key: cord-1033184-hhusqxlb authors: Mugheddu, Cristina; Sanna, Silvia; Atzori, Laura; Rongioletti, Franco title: Safety of secukinumab treatment in COVID‐19 affected psoriatic patients date: 2021-01-03 journal: Dermatol Ther DOI: 10.1111/dth.14710 sha: f1e5bed19ba9f1eb7d8a04c65b4b2fa2ea15cadd doc_id: 1033184 cord_uid: hhusqxlb nan disease relapse at treatment discontinuation can be difficult to manage, especially considering the access limitation to hospitals and outpatients dedicated centers. 3 Among biologics, secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that selectively neutralizes interleukin (IL)-17A, a key cytokine involved in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Preliminary reports on COVID-19 patients who were under secukinumab treatment suggest a favorable course, 4-6 except for one elderly multicomorbid patient, requiring mechanical ventilation. 7 We report two psoriasis patients, infected with COVID-19 while on long-term secukinumab administration, who rapidly recovered from the infection between the two scheduled doses. The following days she manifested a slight body temperature increase, within 37.8 C and anosmia/ageusia for 1 week. No therapy was required and on November 17 she resulted negative to RT-PCR test. Few days after she could inject the scheduled dosage of secukinumab, without interruption. Most experts agree to maintain psoriasis treatment with biologics, although dismission should be considered when COVID-19 symptoms occur. 1 The long secukinumab half-life covered the whole period of illness in our patients, one with conclamant pneumonia and mild symptoms in the other. Current knowledge supports the role of several cytokines release in COVID-19, including IL17, especially in patients with pneumonia 8 and an anti-IL17 treatment may provide an additional benefit rather than be dangerous. 9 Our experience confirms that secukinumab can be safely continued in patients exposed to COVID-19, with a favorable course and rapid recovery even in the more critical patient. The authors declare no potential conflict of interest. The authors certify that the manuscript is original, never submitted to other journal for publication before. All authors contributed equally to the manuscript and had the opportunity to revise and approve the final text. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request. COVID-19 and immunomodulator/immunosuppressant use in dermatology Should biologics for psoriasis be interrupted in the era of COVID-19? Psoriasis health care in the time of coronavirus pandemic: insights from dedicated centers in Sardinia (Italy) Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a patient with ankylosing spondylitis treated with secukinumab: a case-based review Status of a real-life cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis treated with secukinumab and considerations on the use of biological agents in the Covid-19 era COVID-19 in an elderly patient treated with secukinumab Biologics increase the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization, but not ICU admission and death: real-life data from a large cohort during red-zone declaration Elevated plasma level of selective cytokines in COVID-19 patients reflect viral load and lung injury Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 infection and patients with lung cancer: the potential role of interleukin-17 target therapy