Expert consensus on the treat-to-target strategy for psoriasis with biological agents in China

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic, recurrent, inflammatory systemic disease that is not only characterized by skin manifestations but may also be accompanied by various comorbidities, imposing a heavy burden on patients’ physical and mental health and affecting their quality of life. Although the continuous approval of various biological agents for clinical use has provided more effective treatment options to patients with psoriasis, no consensus on the evaluation of comprehensive treatment goals has yet been established. The treat-to-target (T2T) strategy requires consideration of multiple dimensions of treatment outcomes, the development of long-term management goals, and regular assessments of treatment conditions, which are often used in the management of chronic diseases. Therefore, based on the latest consensuses and guidelines, research data, and clinical experience as well as the combination of survey results and expert group discussions, the present consensus focuses on four dimensions of short- and long-term integrated management goals for biological agents: alleviating skin lesions, improving quality of life, screening and managing psoriasis comorbidities, and ensuring drug safety. The implementation methods, evaluation time, treatment monitoring, and program adjustments are also herein described to achieve comprehensive management of psoriasis to the maximum extent. This consensus provides a reference for clinical practice.