SARS-CoV-2 serology in patients on biological therapy or apremilast for psoriasis: a study of 93 patients in the Italian red zone

We report our real-world experience with psoriatic patients treated with biological drugs or small molecules during the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic at the tertiary level Dermatological Clinic at Foundation I.R.C.C.S. Policlinico San Matteo in Lombardy, Italy. We conducted serological analysis for SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence levels in relation to patient specific variables (including type of systemic treatment, sex, age, place of work, number of family members). We analysed present comorbidities as a factor for SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates. Finally, we used the serological data to determine the usefulness of an over-the-phone questionnaire for SARS-CoV-2 positivity performed on the same cohort of psoriatic patients. In conclusion we found an incidence rate of SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence of 13%, within the range from literature for Italy. The use of biological drugs and small molecules for Psoriasis does not seem to increase severity or susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infections. Finally, over-the-phone questionnaires for SARS-CoV-2 positivity are a potentially useful diagnostic tool during the heights of pandemics where in-person meetings may not be possible.