Multiple Streptococcal Brain Abscesses in a Patient Taking Secukinumab

The approval of the interleukin (IL)-17A inhibitor secukinumab (Cosentyx; Novartis International, King of Prussia, PA) was a major advance in psoriasis treatment, with most patients experiencing a 75% reduction in severity.1 Known side effects include an increase in minor infections, but no major infectious adverse events and no nervous system involvement,1-4 leading to broad use and an increase in clinical trials targeting the IL-17 pathway. Here, we describe a patient administered with secukinumab who presented with severe neurologic deficits due to multifocal brain lesions. These were found to be disseminated streptococcal infection and resolved after antibiotic treatment.
Source: Neurology Clinical Practice - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Abscess, Bacterial infections Case Source Type: research