Psoriasis is a disease affecting millions of people around the world. The most common type of psoriasis is known as plaque psoriasis and is characterized by raised red areas of skin that can become painful, crack and bleed. Thankfully there are many treatment options available. One of the most recently FDA approved treatments is Tremfrya (guselkumab).
Tremfrya is a FDA approved injection to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. “The severity of psoriasis is often measured on the amount of skin surface that is affected,” explains Dr. Miriam Hanson, board-certified dermatologist at Sanova Dermatology in Austin, Texas. “Patients with greater than 3% body surface involvement are classified as moderate, while those with over 10% surface involvement are considered severe.” A good candidate for therapy would be a non-pregnant individual with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis who has failed topical therapy and is a candidate for systemic or phototherapy.
Tremfrya is an injection which works by inhibiting the interaction of interleukin-23 (IL-23). “IL-23 is a protein, or cytokine, which naturally occurs in the body and is involved with inflammatory and immune response,” says Dr. Hanson. By blocking this interaction Tremfrya prevents the release of proteins responsible for inflammation and immune response, both of which are thought to contribute to psoriasis outbreaks.
Studies have shown Tremfrya to be very effective in decreasing severity of outbreak. Two studies, VOYAGE 1 and VOYAGE 2 study compared the response to therapy over a period of 16 weeks. Over 70% of participates in the study noted at least a 90% improvement in outbreaks and over 84% of participates noted clear to almost clear skin after 16 weeks of therapy.
As with all medications side effects can occur with Tremfrya. The most common side effects noted during clinical trial included upper respiratory tract infections, headache and injection site reactions. Because this medication does affects the immune system, there is an increased risk of infection while taking Tremfrya. Infections are often mild and include upper respiratory tract infections, gastroenteritis and fungal skin infections.
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Tremfrya is a very effective therapy for those suffering moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. This medication is well tolerate by most individuals. If you suffer from moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, please contact us at Sanova Dermatology talk to your dermatologist today about Tremfrya and see if this therapy is right for you.
