Guselkumab Treatment Outcomes and Persistence in a Nationwide Real-world Cohort of Patients with Plaque Psoriasis
Tarja Mälkönen, Pauliina Nuutinen, Taru Hallinen, Erkki Soini, R Nissinen, Christina Wennerstöm, Tapio Rantanen, Johanna H. Hagman, Rauno J. Harvima, Johanna Höök‐Nikanne, Tiina Ilves, P. Lintu, Ken Malanin, Iina Soramäki, Kaisa Tasanen, Arja Teho, Katja Vähävihu, Sari Itälinna, Pekka Leinonen, Piia Sarajärvi, Laura Huilaja, Rafael Pasternack
Abstract
Guselkumab treatment outcomes and persistence were assessed in a real-world cohort of Finnish patients with difficult-to-treat plaque psoriasis over a median follow-up of 1 year. Data on 181 patients who initiated guselkumab at the 15 study centres were collected retrospectively from the patient charts. Prior exposure to biologic therapies was common, with 56% and 35% having used at least 1 and 2 biologics, respectively. Median guselkumab treatment duration was 11 months with 21 patients (12%) discontinuing treatment during follow-up. Of 85 patients with a follow-up duration of at least 1 year, 73 (86%) were still on guselkumab at 1 year. Significant improvements during follow-up were seen in the absolute Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores with 32 patients (80%) having absolute PASI ≤ 2 after a 9-14-month treatment. Guselkumab treatment was effective and treatment persistence was high in the nationwide Finnish real-life setting.