Full Guidelines—From the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation: Perioperative management of systemic immunomodulatory agents in patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

Background: Systemic immunomodulatory agents are indicated in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Perioperative use of these medications may increase the risk of surgical site infection (SSI) and complication. Objective: To evaluate the risk of SSI and complication in patients with chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease receiving immunomodulatory agents (tumor necrosis factor-alfa [TNF-α] inhibitors, interleukin [IL] 12/23 inhibitor, IL-17 inhibitors, IL-23 inhibitors, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte–associated antigen-4 costimulator, phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, Janus kinase inhibitors, tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, cyclosporine (CsA), and methotrexate [MTX]) undergoing surgery. Methods: We performed a search of the MEDLINE PubMed database of patients with chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease on immune therapy undergoing surgery. Results: We examined 48 new or previously unreviewed studies; the majority were retrospective studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease. Conclusion: For low-risk procedures, TNF-α inhibitors, IL-17 inhibitors, IL-23 inhibitors, ustekinumab, abatacept, MTX, CsA, and apremilast can safely be continued. For intermediate- and high-risk surgery, MTX, CsA, apremilast, abatacept, IL-17 inhibitors, IL-23 inhibitors, and ustekinumab are likely safe to continue; however, a case-by-case approach is advised. Acitretin can be continued for any surgery. There is insufficient evidence to make firm recommendations on tofacitinib, upadacitinib, and deucravacitinib.