A Randomized Controlled Ixekizumab Vs Secukinumab Trial to Study the Impact on Sexual Activity in Adult Patients with Genital Psoriasis

ABSTRACT

Introduction: There is limited data on the effects of biologic therapies on genital psoriasis and sexual activity. Recently, Ixekizumab was reported to be effective.

Aim: To compare the efficacy of ixekizumab and secukinumab for the treatment of genital psoriasis and sexual inadequacy in adult patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis.

Patients and methods: We assessed adult patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis having genital involvement. They were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive either ixekizumab (80 mg/2 weeks after 160-mg initial dose) or secukinumab (300 mg subcutaneous injection at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4 then every 4 weeks). The severity was assessed using Genital Psoriasis Symptoms Scale (GPSS), and impact on sexual health by evaluating the Massachusetts General Hospital-Sexual Functioning Questionnaire (MGH-SFQ).

Results: Twenty eight patients on ixekizumab, and 26 on secukinumab showed improvement in genital psoriasis symptoms, beginning week 2 (GPSS total and individual items), and from week 4 onwards, improvement in sexual activity was seen with both drugs.

Conclusion: Both genital psoriasis symptoms and impact on sexual activity improved rapidly and significantly with both the IL-17 inhibitors. Limitations included small number of patients and lack of follow-up period.

KEYWORDS:

• Ixekizumab
• genital psoriasis
• secukinumab
• IL-17 inhibitors
• sexual dysfunction

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial relationships or otherwise to disclose.

Author contributions

We have to state that both the authors have contributed significantly towards the conception, materialization, and production of the current study. Both of us have approved the final version of the manuscript for publication and take full responsibility about all the work done in the study.

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This paper is not funded.