Shared Pathophysiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Psoriasis: Unraveling the Connection

Walter Jauregui ¹, Yozahandy A Abarca ², Yasmin Ahmadi ³, Vaishnavi B Menon ⁴, Daniela A Zumárraga ⁵, Maria Camila Rojas Gomez ⁶, Aleeza Basri ⁷, Rohitha S Madala ⁸, Peter Girgis ⁹, Zahra Nazir ¹⁰

Cureus. 2024 Sep 3;16(9):e68569. doi: 10.7759/cureus.68569. eCollection 2024 Sep.

Psoriasis (PS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are immune-mediated chronic conditions that share pathophysiological processes, including immune system dysfunction, microbiome dysbiosis, and inflammatory pathways. These pathways result in increased turnover of epithelial cells and compromised barrier function. The assessment of the literature suggests that immunopathogenic mechanisms, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α signaling and IL-23/IL-17 axis dysregulation, are shared by PS and IBD. Clinical characteristics and diagnostic approaches overlap significantly, and advances in biomarker identification benefit both conditions. Current treatments, namely biologics that target TNF-α, IL-17, and IL-23, show promising results in decreasing inflammation and controlling symptoms. Precision medicine approaches are prioritized in prospective therapeutic procedures to tailor pharmaceuticals based on specific biomarkers, perhaps improving outcomes and minimizing side effects. This study thoroughly examines and evaluates the body of research on PS and IBD. Several papers were examined to compile data on clinical features, diagnosis, therapies, pathophysiology, epidemiology, and potential future therapeutic developments. The selection of articles was based on three methodological qualities: relevance and addition to the knowledge of IBD and PS. The retrieved data were combined to provide a coherent summary of the state of the knowledge and to spot new trends. The overview of the latest studies demonstrates that both PS and IBD share pathophysiological foundations and therapeutic approaches. With a spotlight on particular biomarkers, advances in precision medicine provide a promising path toward enhancing therapeutic effectiveness and minimizing side effects.

in CD Moderate to severe Oral corticosteroids. Consider enteral nutritional therapy. TNF inhibitors are recommended to be considered for steroid-dependent or refractory patients. If pharmacotherapy or nutrition therapy is ineffective or unable to adapt, the combination with granulocyte monocyte apheresis (GMA) can be considered.