Small molecule inhibitors and biologics in treating nail psoriasis: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Background: Various systemic immunomodulating therapies have been investigated to treat nail psoriasis, but the efficacy remains unclear. Objective: To perform a systematic review and network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of small molecule inhibitors and biologics in treating nail psoriasis. Methods: Eligible studies in online databases were identified until March 10, 2020. To assess the efficacy of small molecule inhibitors and biologics, network meta-analyses with surface under the cumulative ranking curve of improvement in nail score at 10 to 16 and at 24 to 26 weeks, as well as 100% improvement of Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI), were performed. Results: Thirty-nine studies with a total of 13 treatment arms involving 15,673 patients with nail psoriasis were included. An network meta-analysis showed that tofacitinib (weighted mean difference, 56.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 35.87-77.48) and ixekizumab (weighted mean difference, 59.40; 95% CI, 45.87-72.93) presented the most improvement of nail score at 10 to 16 weeks and 24 to 26 weeks, respectively. For 100% improvement of the Nail Psoriasis Severity Index, ixekizumab showed the best efficacy among all treatments (odds ratio, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.74-5.10). Limitations: Insufficiency of eligible data and no long-term follow-up data. Conclusion: Tofacitinib and ixekizumab presented the best efficacy for treating nail psoriasis in 10 to 16 weeks and 24 to 26 weeks, respectively.