Background: Patients with psoriasis who are treated with systemic and biologic therapies may have an increased risk of infections, including hepatitis B virus (HBV). Cytokines that modulate CD4+ T cell subsets, including interleukin (IL)-12 and IL-23, have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of HBV infection.
Objective: To report the first known cases of acute HBV infection in 2 ustekinumab-treated patients with psoriasis from a phase 3 (PHOENIX 1) and a phase 4 (TRANSIT) study.
Results: Both ustekinumab-treated patients generated an immune response toward HBV and experienced typical courses of infection, without progression to chronic HBV infection.
Conclusion: Continued monitoring of liver-related adverse events in clinical trials, registries, and spontaneous reporting from the postmarketing setting will further contribute to understanding the role of ustekinumab in viral hepatitis.