A report published by Schneeweiss et al in JAMA Dermatology has determined that in the first 6 months of treatment, serious infections (defined as those that led to an emergency department visit or hospital admission) among children with psoriasis receiving treatment with ustekinumab, etanercept, or methotrexate were rare, and there was no meaningful difference in the risk of infection between the immunomodulating agents. In a cohort of approximately 2,300 pediatric patients, the incidence of serious infection was 18.4 per 1,000 person-years for children receiving ustekinumab, 25.6 per 1,000 person-years for those taking etanercept, and 14.9 per 1,000 person-years for those using methotrexate. Additionally, there was a 42% lower risk of outpatient infections in patients using ustekinumab vs etanercept or methotrexate.
May 24, 2023