Biological therapies in a cohort of 18 patients with inflammatory skin diseases: A single-center experience from Department C, KDV

Antigona Begolli Gerqari, Suzana Hapciu, Artizana Dushi

Dermatovenerology Clinic, University Clinical Center 10000 Pristina, Republic of Kosovo

Corresponding author: Antigona Begolli Gerqari, MD, E-mail: antigonagerqari@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Begolli Gerqari A, Hapciu S, Dushi A. Biological therapies in a cohort of 18 patients with inflammatory skin diseases: A single-center experience from Department C, KDV. Our Dermatol Online. 2026;17(1):52-54.
Submission: 19.07.2025; Acceptance: 11.11.2025
DOI: 10.7241/ourd.20261.9

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© Our Dermatology Online 2026. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by Our Dermatology Online.


ABSTRACT

This retrospective, observational study evaluates the efficacy and safety of biological therapies in 18 patients with inflammatory skin diseases treated at Department C, KDV, between December 2023 and May 2025. The patients received infliximab, secukinumab, or omalizumab for pyoderma gangrenosum, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, or atopic dermatitis. The age range was 17–52 years. Most patients with psoriasis responded favorably to secukinumab, including two who switched from infliximab after a suboptimal response. Clinical improvement was also observed in pyoderma gangrenosum, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis. Adverse events were mild and consistent with known safety profiles. Despite the small sample size and retrospective design, this report highlights the real-world utility of biologics and the importance of sequential therapy in non-responders.

Key words: Biological Therapy, Psoriasis, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, Pyoderma Gangrenosum, Atopic Dermatitis, Infliximab, Secukinumab, Omalizumab


INTRODUCTION

Biological therapies have revolutionized the management of chronic inflammatory skin diseases, offering targeted approaches to modulate immune responses [1]. Conditions such as psoriasis, hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), and severe atopic dermatitis (AD) often significantly impact the patient’s quality of life and may be refractory to conventional systemic treatments [2,3]. This article presents a single-center experience with biological agents in a cohort of 18 patients with diverse inflammatory dermatoses.

Patients and Methods

This retrospective study included 18 patients from Department C, KDV, who received biological therapy between December 2023 and May 2025. Ethical approval was waived due to the retrospective nature of the study. Patient demographics, treatment details, and outcomes are summarized in Table 1 and Table 2.

Table 1: Patient treatment details.
Table 2: Treatment outcomes and responses.

RESULTS

Among the 18 patients, the overall response to biological therapy was favorable, with significant clinical improvement observed across various conditions. The patient with pyoderma gangrenosum demonstrated a good clinical response to infliximab [4]. Both patients with hidradenitis suppurativa showed improvement in disease activity with their respective biological treatments [5]. The patient with atopic dermatitis experienced a reduction in disease severity with omalizumab [6]. Among the 15 psoriasis patients, the majority showed a good to excellent response to secukinumab [7,8]. The two psoriasis patients who switched from infliximab to secukinumab due to a poor initial response subsequently achieved a satisfactory clinical response [9,10]. No new or unexpected serious adverse events were reported during the observation period [11,12].

DISCUSSION

This study adds to the growing body of evidence supporting the effectiveness of biological therapies in complex inflammatory skin diseases [13]. Our cohort, although small, represents a diverse range of conditions and demonstrates the real-world applicability of these treatments in a clinical dermatology department. The successful switch from infliximab to secukinumab in two psoriasis patients underscores the individualized nature of biological therapy [14]. The observed favorable responses in pyoderma gangrenosum, hidradenitis suppurativa, and atopic dermatitis further support the broad utility of these targeted immunomodulators [15,16]. The limitations included the small sample size, retrospective design, and relatively short follow-up period [17].

CONCLUSION

Biological therapies, including infliximab, secukinumab, and omalizumab, are effective and generally well-tolerated treatments for severe inflammatory skin conditions in our patient cohort. The ability to switch therapies in non-responders provides valuable flexibility in managing these chronic diseases. Further large-scale studies are warranted to confirm these findings and explore long-term outcomes.

Statement of Human and Animal Rights

All the procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the 2008 revision of the Declaration of Helsinki of 1975.

Statement of Informed Consent

Informed consent for participation in this study was obtained from all patients.

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Notes

Source of Support: This article has no funding source.

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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