psoriasis of the skin liked to remicade

Wondering if anyone has any information on the link between Remicade and psoriasis. I have developed bad psoriasis on pretty much my whole body and my dermatologist seems to believe that it could be linked to the Remicade treatment. He says hes going to try to do some more research, and Im coming up with nothing online. I dont want to stop something that has been working so well, but if it is causing all this psoriasis I'm going to need to quit the Remicade. Its a tough call and I would appreciate somebody's input.

Thanks,
-Chris-

I think developing psoriasis is a side effect of all anti-TNF drugs. I haven't heard as much about it in reference to Remicade but I do know quite a few people on the Crohn's board (myself included) who got psoriasis while on Humira. It is actually in the package insert for Humira that you may get psoriasis while taking it.

There are a number of published research studies that demonstrate this link between TNF-alpha inhibitors (Remicade,Humira,Cimzia) and the development of psoriasis. Go to pubmed.com and search using the above keywords. From what I've read, the consensus right now is to weigh the pros of treatment versus the side effects to determine whether or not to discontinue your infusions. Switching to another TNF-alpha inhibitor has also been recommended but it seems that many continue to have the same reactions (sometimes worse) with other members of the TNF-alpha inhibitor family. Supportive therapy of the psoriasis itself should help. Topical steroid creams, light therapy, etc. Most of the studies show that if you discontinue the TNF-alpha inhibitor, the psoriasis will resolve with time.

I hope that helps.

NapaCabs
35 yo male physician/orthopedic surgeon
in remission
VSL #3, SCDiet (modified)
Psyllium Husk
Multivitamin: Pure encapsulations 950 Daily

Eva Lou, yes, they are, but in a strange twist, they can also cause it in some people. Weird, huh?

Thanks to all for the advice. Ive tried using prescription topical creams and coal tar in my hair. They have been effective on the skin, but not the scalp. I'm going to need to talk to my doctor to start weening off the remicade, but of course Im not going to be able to see him for 2 months. Oh well the psoriasis is nothing compared to UC. Thanks again.

-Chris-

I know this is a old thread but I found it very helpful to me with what I am now going through right now and really didn't know where to start. So here I am and here it is.

I have been on Remicade for over a year now and started to develop some skin issues back in April. I didn't think much about it at the time but as it started to worsen into Nummular Eczema and now Pustular Psoriasis with inflammation and plaques pretty much all over my legs, arms, and worst or all my feet. Treating my skin with steroids and uvb light was not successful so I finally made the decision with my Dermo's advice to stop my Remicade, which was keeping my U/C symptoms pretty much under control for 3 weeks out of 6 between infusions.

My Gastro Dr. and I did not want to burn the bridge on Remicade so we kept on with it for 3 more months. But it came to a point where I really had no other choice but to stop my Remicade. My skin was starting to crack and we were worried about infections setting in. This was a heartbreaking decision for me to make, choosing which to save, my feet or my colon.

Anyway, I stopped Remicade and started Entyvio infusion on December 20, 2018 and am hoping I do not flare to bad while I am waiting to see if it will work for my u/c and if my skin issues will eventually disappear now that I am off of Remicade.To bad there are no guarantee's either condition will have a happy ending.

My Gastro Dr. said it may take 6 months for the Entyvio to take full effect. In the mean time if my u/c symptoms get real bad to send him a message and we can start a slow taper of Preds again.

I have to admit. I am scared at this point not knowing how this will all work out.
Thanks everyone for listening and letting me share my feeling here.

iPoop said...
Hope it clears up. Sometimes psoriasis is a secondary immune condition and unrelated to our medications. If the rash doesn't clearup after ceasing remi then that's the case. Wait and see.

iPoop..Thanks for the info and support.. It's greatly appreciated!
Still stuck at home, Waiting to see if I get better. As of now no change yet in rash. Gastro, starting to flare more the last few days. My colon seems to of gone to sleep for now. I'm hoping it quitely wakes up soon. This is what it does when the inflammation starts to get bad, and then all hell breaks loose. Ouch!!
Oh well, time will tell. If it gets real bad with the twisting and swelling pain again, I may have to call the doc after New years if not sooner and start the preds again. I sure don't want to let it get to out of control like I have done in the past.
I sure hope I didn't give up my Remicade for nothing even if it wasn't holding me for the entire gap between infusions. I was a lot better off from a u/c standpoint, with it than I ever was without it.

MarkWithIBD said...
I had scalp psoriasis before I ever developed UC. The year that I tried biologics, my psoriasis got better but my UC didn't.

The dermatologist I went to said my psoriasis was being aggravated by scalp fungus, a kind of yeast. When I used the prescription shampoo for it to kill the yeast, the psoriasis went away.

Maybe the psoriasis is worse for you on biologics because there's something on the skin that grows stronger when the immune system is suppressed.

Also a naturopath told me once that severe eczema or psoriasis on other parts of the body is because the body is overloaded and can't detox itself fast enough. So maybe extra medication is doing that to you. I can't say because the reason for my psoriasis seems to have been fungus.

Thanks for the support Mark. What your saying makes sense. My system was pretty suppressed with the double dose of Remicade plus we changed my infusion from every 8 weeks to ever 6 a year ago for the u/c flares. Anyway it's back to the drawing board. We just made some big changes 12 days ago and again today. We're hoping to get me Well again. It's gonna take some patience and time before we know if these meds will work. If not than maybe Stelara will be approved by the fda for u/c by then. It's approved for Psoriasis and Crohns but not u/c yet.