The efficacy of ixekizumab treatment in Chinese psoriasis patients: a short-term retrospective study

Ixekizumab is a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-17A that has shown significant improvement in alleviating psoriasis. However, data is sparse on the efficacy of ixekizumab in psoriasis patients in China. To investigate the efficacy of ixekizumab in Chinese psoriasis patients. Patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis were retrospectively investigated from April 2020 to October 2020. A total of 16 patients were treated with 80 mg ixekizumab every two weeks after a 160-mg loading dose. Efficacy was assessed using the Psoriasis Activity and Severity Index (PASI), static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA) and Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) at Weeks 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 12. All patients showed excellent response to the treatment. Compared to baseline level, the improvement was significant and statistically significant at Week 1, 2, 4, 8 and 12 (p<0.05). Of the patients, 18.75% reported sPGA 0/1 (clear or almost clear skin) as early as Week 2, and the percentage of patients who reported sPGA 0/1 reached 100% at Week 12. Moreover, the DLQI decreased gradually coinciding with improvement in PASI and sPGA. The head/neck regions showed the fastest improvements, followed by the trunk and the arms/legs. During the 12-week period, no serious adverse effects occurred. Our results indicate that the treatment of ixekizumab was safe and effective in psoriasis patients in China.