title: Influence of ustekinumab on body weight of patients with psoriasis: an initial report.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many recent epidemiological studies have shown the influence of treatment with anti-TNF-α on body mass of patients with psoriasis but there are no reports in the literature on the influence of ustekinumab on that parameter.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the effect of ustekinumab therapy on body weight in patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The examined group consisted of 11 patients with psoriasis treated at the Department and Clinic of Dermatology in Olsztyn. Patients' body mass and body mass index (BMI) were evaluated prior to the first administration of the ustekinumab dose and at week 28 of treatment (the day of the fourth dose).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Body mass increase was determined in 7 patients (64%), on average by 2.27 kg (p < 0.05), and the BMI increased by 3.35% (p < 0.1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Observing a correlation between ustekinumab application and body mass increase, similar to the treatment with anti-TNF-α preparations, an attempt was undertaken at explaining that correlation by analysing the role of IL-12 and IL-23 in psoriasis pathogenesis. IL-12 and IL-23, by influencing the naïve lymphocytes T and stimulating their diversification towards Th1 and Th17, also, indirectly, cause an increase in TNF-α and other cytokines production (IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-17, IL-10, IL-22). Ustekinumab will then have a significant influence on decreasing the production of cytokines, which are important for metabolism and body mass.
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Municipal Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Waldemar Placek MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Owczarczyk-Saczonek
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Municipal Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Waldemar Placek MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Placek
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Municipal Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Waldemar Placek MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rybak-d'Obyrn
authors.affiliation: Department and Clinic of Dermatology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Clinical Immunology, Municipal Hospital, Olsztyn, Poland. Head of Department: Prof. Waldemar Placek MD, PhD.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wygonowska
keywords: interleukin 12; interleukin 23; obesity; psoriasis; tumour necrosis factor α; ustekinumab