The effect of biological agents on lipid profile and hemogram parameters in patients with psoriasis

Introduction : There are conflicting data in the literature regarding the effects of biological agents on lipid profile and hemogram profile. The aim of this study was to investigate effects of biological agents on lipid profile, hemogram parameters, NLO, TLO, MPV and CRP in patients with psoriasis. Materials and Methods: This study is an observative and retrospective analysis of hemogram parameters (n:153) and lipid profiles (n:124) in psoriasis patients with in use of TNF-α-antagonists (adalimumab, etanercept,infliximab), interleukin (IL)12/23-antagonist ustekinumab and monoclonal anti-IL-17A antibody secukinumab. Patients who have been using these biological agents for at least 6 months within the diagnosis of psoriasis were examined for age, BMI, smoking, additional diseases, and past treatments for psoriasis. Lipid profiles, CRP, hemogram parameters and atherogenic index, neutrophil / platelet ratio, platelet / lymphocyte ratio, PASI and MPV were evaluated. In statistical analysis Kruskal Wallis, Friedmann test, ANOVA, spearman tests were used. Statistical significance level was accepted as p <0,05. Results: There was a significant difference in hemoglobin values between the follow-up weeks in the Adalimumab drug group (p <0.05) and in all patients (p <0.001). There was a significant difference and decrease in platelet values etanercept (p <0.001) and sekukinumab (p <0.05) drug groups and in all patients (p <0.001) between follow-up weeks. There was a significant difference and increase at follow-up weeks in the drug groups receiving adalimumab (p <0.001) and etanercept (p <0.05), in all patients (p <0.001) on lymphocyte values. There were significant differences and decreases in TLO and NLO values between follow-up weeks in adalimumab, etanercept, sekukinumab drug groups and all patients (p <0.05). There was a significant difference and decrease in CRP values between etanercept, sekukinumab drug groups in all follow-up weeks (p <0.05). There was a significant difference and increase in the triglyceride values between follow- up weeks in all patients and the ustekinumab drug group (p <0.05). Triglyceride values were increased 10.91% at the 12th follow-up week in ustekinumab drug group, an increased of 3.2% in all patients compared to baseline. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol, LDL, HDL values and atherogenic index in follow-up weeks in all patients and drug groups (p> 0.05). According to the basal value at the 12th week, there was no positive correlation between the PASI change percentage and the NLO, TLO, CRP and MPV change percentage. Conclusion: In patients with psoriasis under biological agent treatment, especially in ustekinumab, triglyceride levels should be closely monitored in the follow-up. NLO, TLO, CRP values can be used as a cheap and simple systemic inflammation marker. Although there are some changes in hematological parameters and lipid profile during biological treatment, knowing which values change with treatment will prevent false interpretations and unnecessary tests since these values may change due to secondary factors during follow-up.