Long-Term Impact of Guselkumab on Systemic Inflammation Indices in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease associated with systemic inflammation and comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Blood-derived inflammatory indices like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) have been proposed as biomarkers of systemic inflammation and disease severity. This retrospective and prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of guselkumab, an IL-23 inhibitor, on these indices in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. <b>Methods</b>: We analyzed 208 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with guselkumab, with hematologic evaluations available for 208 patients at baseline, 208 at week 52, 129 at week 104, and 94 at week 156. Systemic inflammatory indices were calculated from routine annual blood tests. Patients were stratified by obesity, cardiovascular comorbidities, treatment response, and prior biologic therapy. Longitudinal changes were assessed using Friedman tests with Wilcoxon post hoc comparisons, and correlations between PASI and inflammatory indices were evaluated using Spearman's coefficients. <b>Results</b>: SIRI and PLR showed significant reductions at week 156 (<i>p</i> = 0.038 and <i>p</i> = 0.018, respectively), while MLR also decreased over time without reaching consistent significance. NLR and PIV showed minimal or inconsistent changes. Obese patients and those with cardiovascular disease had higher baseline SII and SIRI and less pronounced improvements. No significant differences were observed between super responders and others. Correlation between baseline PASI and most inflammatory markers was weak, except for a weak but significant correlation with PIV (ρ = 0.119, <i>p</i> = 0.049). <b>Conclusions</b>: Guselkumab treatment is associated with long-term reduction in systemic inflammatory indices, particularly SIRI. The weak correlation of these markers with skin severity highlights a dissociation between cutaneous and systemic inflammation. SIRI and SII may serve as useful biomarkers to monitor systemic inflammation and guide comprehensive management in psoriasis patients.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Published
2026-01-06
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm15020439
Primary Topic
Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Long-Term Impact of Guselkumab on Systemic Inflammation Indices in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis

Luca Bianchi, Lorenzo Marcelli, Edoardo Mortato, Cosimo Di Raimondo et al.
Journal of Clinical Medicine
Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
article

Long-Term Impact of Guselkumab on Systemic Inflammation Indices in Moderate-to-Severe Psoriasis

Luca Bianchi, Lorenzo Marcelli, Edoardo Mortato, Cosimo Di Raimondo, Marco Galluzzo, Domenico Marrapodi, Agostino Panichelli, Marina Talamonti, Valerio Gneo
article en

Abstract

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease associated with systemic inflammation and comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome. Blood-derived inflammatory indices like neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), systemic immune-inflammation index (SII), systemic inflammation response index (SIRI), and pan-immune-inflammation value (PIV) have been proposed as biomarkers of systemic inflammation and disease severity. This retrospective and prospective observational study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of guselkumab, an IL-23 inhibitor, on these indices in moderate-to-severe psoriasis. <b>Methods</b>: We analyzed 208 patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis treated with guselkumab, with hematologic evaluations available for 208 patients at baseline, 208 at week 52, 129 at week 104, and 94 at week 156. Systemic inflammatory indices were calculated from routine annual blood tests. Patients were stratified by obesity, cardiovascular comorbidities, treatment response, and prior biologic therapy. Longitudinal changes were assessed using Friedman tests with Wilcoxon post hoc comparisons, and correlations between PASI and inflammatory indices were evaluated using Spearman's coefficients. <b>Results</b>: SIRI and PLR showed significant reductions at week 156 (<i>p</i> = 0.038 and <i>p</i> = 0.018, respectively), while MLR also decreased over time without reaching consistent significance. NLR and PIV showed minimal or inconsistent changes. Obese patients and those with cardiovascular disease had higher baseline SII and SIRI and less pronounced improvements. No significant differences were observed between super responders and others. Correlation between baseline PASI and most inflammatory markers was weak, except for a weak but significant correlation with PIV (ρ = 0.119, <i>p</i> = 0.049). <b>Conclusions</b>: Guselkumab treatment is associated with long-term reduction in systemic inflammatory indices, particularly SIRI. The weak correlation of these markers with skin severity highlights a dissociation between cutaneous and systemic inflammation. SIRI and SII may serve as useful biomarkers to monitor systemic inflammation and guide comprehensive management in psoriasis patients.

Journal of Clinical MedicineVol. 15(2)
University of Rome Tor Vergata (IT), Policlinico Tor Vergata (IT)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 96%
Psoriasis: Treatment and Pathogenesis
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.