A report describes a case of a 51-year-old man who visited the emergency room six times during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, reporting the appearance of an erythematous rash surmounted by pustules all over his body, along with fever and malaise.

His blood test revealed high C-reactive protein and elevated white blood cell count. A skin biopsy demonstrated psoriasiform dermatitis with neutrophils in the stratum corneum and a mild mononuclear infiltrate in the upper dermis, which confirmed the diagnosis of Generalized Pustular Psoriasis (GPP).

After the first access, he received treatment with cyclosporine at a dosage of 3 mg/kg/day, with no success. But the lack of improvement prompted him to visit the emergency room 5 more times within a short time.

Aiming to achieve remission quickly, the physicians initiated ixekizumab, a high-affinity monoclonal antibody that selectively targets interleukin-17A, known for its rapid action in psoriasis vulgaris. He demonstrated a dramatic response, and after only two injections at time 0, he showed complete resolution of the active skin lesion. After one year, his psoriasis was completely in remission. Even two years after the first administration of ixekizumab, the patient showed no adverse events, and he remains on treatment and completely disease-free.

Burlando M, Salvi I, Paravisi A, Cozzani E, Parodi A. Severe Generalized Pustular Psoriasis Successfully Treated with Ixekizumab: A Case Report. Case Rep Dermatol 2022:326-329. doi: 10.1159/000526037