Diacerein in the treatment of chronic plaque psoriasis

Diacerein belongs to the class of anthraquinone derivatives which has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipyretic properties. The principal mechanism of action of diacerein is to inhibit the interleukin-1β system and related downstream signaling. Several rheumatology societies such as the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) have introduced diacerein in their therapeutic guidelines as a treatment option in osteoarthritis. We hereby report the case of a 56-year-old man suffering from chronic plaque psoriasis who was prescribed diacerein by an orthopedician for bilateral knee osteoarthritis. We observed a dramatic improvement in the psoriatic skin lesions with the achievement of Psoriasis Area Severity Index 75 at 12 weeks, without objectively observed adverse drug event. This suggests a probable role of diacerein as an oral biological agent in the therapeutic armamentarium of chronic plaque psoriasis