Ustekinumab for skin reactions associated with anti‐tumor necrosis factor‐α agents in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases: A single‐center retrospective study

Abstract

Anti‐tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α agents may induce skin reactions, in particular in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of ustekinumab in these patients. IBD patients facing therapeutic issues because of cutaneous reactions or tolerance issues, consequently treated with ustekinumab in our department, were included. Retrospective review of case records and clinical photographs was carried out. Twenty‐six patients were included. Twenty‐three patients were treated for Crohn's disease and three for ulcerative colitis. Fourteen patients presented psoriasiform lesions, nine eczematiform lesions, four anaphylactoid reactions, two alopecia areata‐like lesions, one injection‐site reaction, one cutaneous polyarteritis nodosa and five other skin reactions. Most of them resolved under ustekinumab. In detail, eczematiform lesions completely resolved in all cases, psoriasiform lesions completely resolved in 12 cases (85.7%) and had partial response in two cases (14.3%). Two cases of alopecia areata showed complete response (complete hair regrowth). Fourteen patients showed complete digestive response, 10 patients partial digestive response (seven of which needed IBD treatment optimization) and only two failure. In conclusion, ustekinumab is a drug of choice in patients with IBD who cannot tolerate TNF blockers.

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