The Risk Of Leprosy In Patients Using Immunobiologics And Conventional Immunosuppressants For The Treatment Of Dermatological And Rheumatological Diseases: A Cohort Study

Leprosy remains prevalent in developing areas, and migration renders it an increasing concern in developed countries where the incidence of immune-mediated diseases, such as psoriasis, is high. We aimed to evaluate the leprosy risk in patients using immunobiologics and conventional immunosuppressants for the treatment of dermatological and rheumatological diseases. We performed a cohort study; patients were consecutively included from 2014 until 2019. The main risk factor was medication-induced immunosuppression, and the main outcome was a leprosy diagnosis. The degree of immunosuppression was quantified according to previous consensus.