Background Ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds with specificity and affinity to the p40 subunit of cytokines IL-12 and IL-23.

Purpose To determine the short and long-term effectiveness of ustekinumab in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.

To determine the change from the baseline in the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI).

To describe the safety profile of ustekinumab in clinical practise.

Materials and Methods We reviewed the medical records of 31 patients who had been prescribed ustekinumab between October 2009 and July 2012 in our hospital. We noted the PASI (Psoriasis area severity index) and DLQI scores before and during the treatment and the adverse events reported by patients in their cheque-ups.

Clinicians typically consider at least 75% improvement (PASI75) in the disease to be a clinically meaningful improvement indicative of success.

Results Data were unavailable in 3 patients.

42.4% (12) of patients were male and the median age was 44 years. The median baseline PASI score was 17.89 and the mean duration of psoriasis was 23.22 years.

15 patients (54%) completed a DLQI questionnaire. The median baseline DLQI score was 15.93 and the median DLQI score during the treatment was 1.26.

7 patients (25%) reported adverse events:

4 patients (14.4%) upper respiratory tract infection.

2 patients (7.2%) dyslipidaemia.

1 patient (3.6%) liver enzyme alteration.

1 patient (3.6%) basal–cell carcinoma.

1 patient (3.6%) generalised desquamative erythema.

There was only one adverse event that forced the suspension of treatment (generalised desquamative erythema).

Conclusions In our study, ustekinumab demonstrated a rapid onset of action and a high effectiveness, stable safety and a great improvement in the quality of life in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis on up to 34 months of continuous therapy.

No conflict of interest.