Is psoriasis a pre-existing condition (coronavirus)?

[Jobseeker19]

I have seen a news report which mentions the death of a person and psoriasis as their pre-existing condition.

Does having psoriasis make you a vulnerable person?

The BAD and rheumatology guidance look to be saying the same thing (which is reassuring!)

My brother has it (the plaque type) and is on strong injections once a month (they cost £22,000 each!). I'm really worried as I know they are suppressing his immune system but is psoriasis is so bad bless him. He also has a pacemaker due to a preexisting heart condition. He's only 27 but I'm worried.

All I've heard from my consultant is a letter postponing my three month appointment to an indefinite time, with no guidance as to what Im supposed to be doing.

One thing that I've also heard from a medic friend is that there is a theory (just a theory at this stage) that some of the deaths, particularly in the young/healthy, are a result of the immune system going into overdrive as a result of the virus and attacking the body. There have been some trials with immune-suppressing drugs (in the US I think). If that is the case, medications like biological and methotrexate might not be a bad thing to be on!

Sometimes my neutrophils drop a little below where they should be but pick up on a repeat blood test. I definitely pick up more severe bacterial infections than I used to. That worries me a bit.

I've received a letter from Rheumatology on Friday which says that the 'high risk' is about the types of immunosuppressive drugs one is on, and the combination with co-morbidities. It's really quite technical.

I have psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, and other autoimmune conditions. My GP hasn't contacted me.

My daughter has juvenile arthritis and is on methotrexate. I spoke to her consultant on Friday who said that mtx, on its own, was not an increase risk as far as they could tell. She said they got more concerned with a combination of drugs plus steroids. She also said that early indications suggested immune suppressing drugs tended to help when the disease progressed to a particular phase. Obviously please check individual circumstances. It has been widely reported anyway, but she reinforced the message about withdrawing anti-inflammatory medicines in the event of a fever (I.e. ibuprofen).

I queried this the other day. I have severe plaque psoriasis. I was on methotrexate for 4 months but discontinued it about 6 months ago now due to mental health side effects. I'm now glad I did. However, I was given a pretty comprehensive health MOT before starting including a lung X-ray so I assume my lungs were looking healthy.

Ironically I've always found my psoriasis seems to be linked to a strong immune system. I'm rarely ill and have been known to get over a cold in 24 hours. Obviously that doesn't mean I'm definitely not at risk for coronavirus but it makes me feel a bit less nervous about it for myself.

I have psoriasis and havent had so much as a sniffle in over 3 years, which i always put down to a v strong immune system.

Ive had P for 10 years and have always refused immunosuppression even when i was 95% covered.

So i was kinda hoping....that I'd be aright! This has really worried me

@bathsh3ba out of interest, what were your mental health side effects of you don’t mind me asking?

@BarbarAnna I was having very sudden mood dips where I felt suicidal. I've been depressed before but I was in a good place when I started methotrexate and am in a good place now. So I definitely think it did something to me.

I've Psoriasis on my scalp. Only got it all over once when I stopped taking Magnesium Malate and Vitamin D supplements which I take because I have primary hyperparathyroidism with 4 gland hyperplasia. I was on a sun holiday in Spain so I thought brilliant I'll have loads of natural vitamin D. Big mistake. I'm hoping the fact I take Magnesium and vitamin D supplements will help me if I'm unlucky enough to get Covid 19 as I have high blood pressure and got two DVTs as a consequence of having primary HPT. My thyroid is underactive as that was whipped out in an op to try and treat the other disease. I'm also on a high dose of Warfarin for life now. Sorry, just a bit worried at the minute. Like us all😢

@bathsh3ba sorry to hear this. My daughter has started on it and I am seeing some depressive thoughts so this is certainly something I am keeping an eye on. I hope you stay well.

As others have said, I think it's just if you're on medication for it, to supress the immune system, that would make you more at risk.

I'm on biologics and have had lots and lots of steroid injections for PsA/Psoriasis.

I'm also just coming out of having the virus - I'd had an injection the week/about 4 days before I started feeling ill.

Apart from some residual wheeziness and being tired, I'm feeling pretty good.

Usually, I'm the last person standing when there's illnesses going around - I think that my immune system is so primed, seeing as it thinks my own body is worth kicking the shit out of on a daily basis, that 99% of illnesses don't stand a chance.

The only thing I've noticed is that, whilst the inflammation in my tendons and joints seems to be less than it was immediately prior to catching the bastard plague, I've got a slightly lumpy scalp where some plaques are forming and my skin/feet in particular are getting a bit manky.

DP also has Psoriasis, unmedicated. He had what seemed like a bad cold at the same time. He doesn't get colds any more than I do normally - his legs are now quite affected with the initial beginnings of plaques.

I would expect that this poor child was on significant amounts of medication and it was that, rather than the condition itself, that contributed to his death.

@ mynameiscalypso that’s an interesting theory about the young people who have died of the virus because I was reading up on the Spanish flu and they had a very similar theory as to why it killed a lot of young people then

Yes, it's cytokine storm related.

Oh, and the one thing we both do since I was diagnosed with a severe Vitamin D deficiency (treated with many thousands of IUs for over a year), is have an A-Z multivitamin/minerals every day.

No idea whether that made a difference or whether we were just plain lucky. I suspect it's the latter, to be honest.

@Springcrow
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It may depend how severe it is.

I have lung disease but only a mild one and I am not in the at risk group.

If I was either a. Very severe or b. Moderately severe AND taking immunosuppressants, then I would be high risk.

Taking precautions though.

Just went to start a thread on this.

I'm also riddled!

Had 80% coverage on my body 2 years ago when I got tonsillitis. My body goes mental with it if I get even a simple illness.

I'll also add I seem to have a strong immune system as I never get ill.

Husband and son always have coughs and colds yet I rarely catch anything.

I'm also on biologics for psoriasis. My consultant has advised social distancing is necessary but not full isolation (although I was already self isolating as had every symptom and was really poorly).

Had I been on my previous medication of methotrexate or cyclosporine I probably would have had to shield for the full 12 weeks.

Just to add that every single hospital appointment that was lined up for me from 17th March has been cancelled. One of them I'd waited 12 months for; the others over seven months. (Dermatology; Rheumatology; Gastro-Enterology; Physio; Gynae; MRI Scanning). I'm starting to feel quite depressed about it all tbh.

Autoimmune disease is complex and debilitating. Staying in and not bothering my GP is not really a treatment plan.

It's the medication rather than the condition (I have another autoimmune condition but on no medication that suppresses my immune system for that) without medication I'd say its negligible.