FormalPara Key Points

Patients receiving systemic therapy for psoriasis may be at an increased risk of developing Candida infections.

This article provides clinical guidance on diagnosing and treating candidiasis in patients with psoriasis.

We posit that, in most cases, candidiasis can be effectively and safely treated without discontinuation of systemic psoriasis therapy.

1 Introduction

Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory disease in which dysregulation of the immune system results in overexpression of inflammatory cytokines [1]. Several of these cytokines (e.g. interleukin [IL]-22, IL-23, and IL-17) are also involved in host defense mechanisms against common pathogens, including Candida species (spp.) [2–5]. Some Candida spp. secrete toxins that exacerbate psoriasis, and it has been hypothesized that the presence of C. albicans in the gut can stimulate production of superantigens, causing non-specific T-cell activation and production of cytokines that can trigger the psoriatic process [6–8]. Thus, candidiasis is a recognized trigger for psoriasis exacerbations and persistence, and patients with psoriasis may be at risk for subclinical Candida colonization and infections of the skin, mouth, and intestinal tract [6–9].

Several psoriasis treatments may further increase patients’ risk for developing fungal infections [10]. For example, oral candidiasis has been noted in patients using topical corticosteroids for psoriasis [11], and systemic immunosuppressive agents used to treat psoriasis (e.g. methotrexate and cyclosporine) are associated with increased rates of oral and disseminated candidiasis [12–14]. Additionally, increased Candida colonization and mild or moderate localized Candida infections have been reported in patients receiving biologic therapy for psoriasis and other inflammatory diseases (e.g. Crohn’s disease) [14–18].

Dermatology practitioners who treat patients with psoriasis need to be aware of the signs and symptoms of candidiasis, as well as the recommended candidiasis treatment guidelines. This article presents an overview of candidiasis epidemiology in patients with psoriasis, followed by a primer for dermatologists on the diagnosis and treatment of superficial oropharyngeal, cutaneous, and genitourinary candidiasis.

2 Candidiasis Overview

There are more than 200 known species of Candida [7], a ubiquitous eukaryotic yeast that is part of the normal microbial flora of the skin, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract in healthy individuals [19, 20]. When host immunity is compromised, the risk of developing opportunistic Candida infections increases [19]. C. albicans is the most common species associated with Candida infections [19], which often presents as oral thrush, vulvovaginitis, or cutaneous candidiasis [7]. Predisposing factors for candidiasis include diabetes and other endocrinopathies, obesity, pregnancy, underlying HIV infection, poor hygiene, and recent treatment with antibiotics or corticosteroids [19, 21, 22]. Individuals who wear dentures are also at increased risk for oral candidiasis [21].

3 Candidiasis Epidemiology in Patients with Psoriasis

The fungal microbiome is more diverse and has a different distribution of species in the skin of patients with psoriasis compared with healthy individuals [23]. Oral, cutaneous, and fecal Candida colonization is significantly more common in patients with psoriasis than in individuals without psoriasis [6, 7, 24]. A recent study by Picciani and colleagues [24] found that 26 % (37/140) of patients with psoriasis tested positive for oral candidiasis compared with 0 of 140 healthy controls. In this study, candidiasis was more common in patients with severe psoriasis (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score >12) than in those with mild or moderate disease [24]; however, other studies have found no association between candidiasis and psoriasis severity [6, 7].

In another recent study by Sarvtin and colleagues [7], Candida spp. were isolated in 15 % of skin specimens from patients with psoriasis compared with 4 % of controls (p = 0.045), and in oral specimens of 60 % of patients with psoriasis compared with 20 % of controls (p < 0.01). Serum immunoglobulin (Ig) M, IgA, and IgG antibody levels against C. albicans were lower in patients with psoriasis compared with controls, suggesting that psoriasis may be associated with a reduction in humoral immune responses [7].

Candida colonization is not rare in intertriginous regions of patients with psoriasis [9]. Practitioners should also be aware that symptoms of intertriginous psoriasis can be similar to those of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), and both of these conditions should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with vulval pruritus, inflammation, and erythema. Notably, it is prudent to consider intertriginous psoriasis in prepubescent girls because chronic VVC is uncommon in this population [25]. In a chart review of prepubertal girls with chronic vulvitis, Fischer [25] observed that 71 % (27/38) had signs of psoriasis on skin examination, and no patients had evidence of VVC.

Nail onycholysis is a common finding in patients with Candida infections, and also in patients with plaque or pustular psoriasis [26]. Patients who develop psoriatic nail deformities (e.g. pitting, oil spots, or thickening/crumbling of the nail plate) are at increased risk for developing comorbid opportunistic onychomycosis because the compromised nail bed creates an environment where fungi can thrive [26, 27]. Zisova and colleagues [27] found that 62 % (141/228) of patients with psoriasis-related nail changes tested positive for fungal agents and, in 24 % (34/141) of these cases, Candida spp. were identified as causative agents (predominantly C. albicans). Patients with the highest Nail Psoriasis Severity Index scores were most likely to test positive for Candida colonization [27]. However, anticandidal treatment has not been shown to eliminate fingernail onycholysis, and the frequent isolation of Candida from onycholytic nails in patients with psoriasis may be due to the close functional proximity of the fingers to the vaginal and gastrointestinal tract, which commonly harbor C. albicans [26]. In these patients, nail onycholysis may be most effectively improved by treating the underlying nail psoriasis. Typically, specific treatment for onycholytic nails is not necessary unless the patient experiences functional disability.

4 Diagnosis and Treatment of Candidiasis in Patients with Psoriasis

4.1 Oral Candidiasis

Oropharyngeal candidiasis has been classified into four clinical variants [28]. Acute pseudomembranous candidiasis (thrush) is the most common form and is characterized by white, curd-like lesions that can be dislodged with gentle scraping, revealing underlying erosions (Fig. 1a) [28]. Erythematous candidiasis (also referred to as chronic atrophic candidiasis or denture stomatitis) is characterized by red, atrophic plaques on the tongue and oral mucosa that are often found at the point of mucosal contact with dentures [21, 28]. Chronic hyperplastic candidiasis resembles leukoplakia and presents as thickened white plaques on the gums and inside the cheeks that cannot be easily scraped off [28]. Angular cheilitis, or perleche, is characterized by erythema or fissuring at the corners of the mouth and is common in patients with dentures [28]. In rare cases, oral infections may spread to the pharynx or esophagus [28].

Fig. 1
figure 1

a Oral candidiasis in a patient with psoriasis. b Intertriginous candidiasis. Reprinted from Janniger et al. [48]. c Vulvovaginal candidiasis. Reprinted from Biophoto Associates/Science Photo Library [49]. d Candidal balanitis with fissuring. Reprinted from Verma and Wollina [50]

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Patients with oral candidiasis can be asymptomatic or may report pain, burning sensations, sore throat, difficulty swallowing, and/or halitosis [21, 28]. While oral candidiasis can usually be diagnosed through physical examination and clinical history [24, 28], the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases guidelines for the diagnosis of Candida diseases recommend culturing a swab of a lesion on selective media [29]. Traditionally, microscopic examination using potassium hydroxide (KOH) or fungal cultures are both effective and sensitive methods for detection of oral Candida colonization.

Guideline recommendations from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) for the treatment of oropharyngeal candidiasis are summarized in Table 1. Topical therapy (e.g. clotrimazole troches or nystatin suspensions or pastilles) is recommended as first-line treatment for patients with an initial episode of mild disease (strength of recommendation: B) [30]. The recommended initial treatment for moderate-to-severe disease is oral fluconazole 100–200 mg (3 mg/kg) once-daily for 7–14 days (strength of recommendation: A) [30]. For esophageal candidiasis, systemic antifungal therapy is always required, and oral fluconazole 200–400 mg (3–6 mg/kg) daily for 14–21 days is recommended (strength of recommendation: A) [30].

Table 1 IDSA guideline recommendations for oropharyngeal candidiasis [30]
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4.2 Cutaneous Candidiasis

Cutaneous candidiasis usually affects intertriginous areas, such as the groin, abdominal skin folds, and inframammary skin, but can also occur in interdigital spaces [21]. Typically, cutaneous candidiasis presents as thin, bright-red plaques that can be erosive, dry, scaly, oozing, or macerated (Fig. 1b); pustules and collarette scales may also be present [21]. Diagnosis of cutaneous candidiasis is usually based on clinical appearance of the skin, the presence of pseudohyphae in KOH wet mounts, or positive fungal culture of scrapings from affected areas.

IDSA guidelines recommend topical triazoles and polyenes (e.g. clotrimazole, miconazole, and nystatin) for the treatment of cutaneous candidiasis [31]. Affected areas should be kept dry and, if necessary, Burrow’s solution compresses can be used as a drying agent [22, 31].

4.3 Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

It is estimated that 75 % of all women experience at least one VVC infection during their childbearing years [32]. Symptoms of VVC can include vulvar pruritus and burning, and soreness and irritation can lead to dyspareunia and dysuria [32]. Concurrent fungal infections can worsen psoriasis; therefore, it is important for VVC to be identified and treated quickly in this population [33].

VVC is often diagnosed based on clinical history and physical examination showing signs of vulvar and vaginal erythema, edema, excoriation, fissures, and/or thick, curd-like vaginal discharge (Fig. 1c) [30, 32]. IDSA guidelines recommend confirming diagnosis with a wet-mount preparation in saline and 10 % KOH, and a check of vaginal pH, which should be normal (<4.5), before beginning antifungal treatment [30]. Cultures should be obtained for patients with negative wet-mount findings [30].

Most (approximately 90 %) cases of VVC are uncomplicated, and IDSA guidelines recommend treatment with topical antifungal agents (Table 2) or a single 150 mg dose of oral fluconazole (strength of recommendation: A) [30]. A number of topical antifungal agents are effective treatments for uncomplicated VVC, with no agent showing clear superiority. Response rates are generally high (>90 %) and comparable with topical versus oral therapies, whether given as a short course or as single-dose therapy [30]. Because there are many available therapies that are safe and effective for uncomplicated VVC, patient preference (e.g. for oral vs. topical therapy) should be considered when making treatment decisions [34].

Table 2 Intravaginal treatments for vulvovaginal candidiasis
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Complicated VVC is defined as severe or recurrent disease, infection due to a Candida species other than C. albicans, and/or VVC in an abnormal host. Such infections require treatment with topical therapy administered intravaginally daily for approximately 7 days, or multiple oral doses of fluconazole (150 mg every 72 h for three doses) [30]. For recurrent VVC, defined as four or more symptomatic episodes within a 1-year period, IDSA guidelines recommend 10–14 days of induction therapy with a topical or oral triazole, followed by fluconazole 150 mg once weekly for 6 months (strength of recommendation: A) [30].

4.4 Candidal Balanitis

Candidal balanitis (Fig. 1d) is defined as inflammation of the glans penis in the presence of Candida spp., and accounts for less than 20 % of all balanoposthitis [35]. Candidal balanitis is generally sexually acquired and is more common in patients with diabetes and in uncircumcised men [32]. Infections are almost always opportunistic and often occur in patients with primary inflammatory dermatoses, such as psoriasis [35]. Symptoms include local burning, soreness, and pruritus, and clinical features include pronounced erythema and papules [32, 35]. Diagnosis is often based on clinical appearance [32], but European consensus guidelines recommend performing a subpreputial culture to confirm the presence of Candida [35].

European guidelines for the management of candidal balanitis recommend treatment with 1 % clotrimazole cream applied twice daily until symptoms resolve or, if symptoms are severe, oral fluconazole 150 mg once daily (strength of recommendation for both: A) [35]. Application of 2 % miconazole cream twice daily until symptoms resolve or, if resistance or allergy to imidazoles is suspected, nystatin cream (100,000 units/g) is also recommended (strength of recommendation for both: B). Topical imidazole with 1 % hydrocortisone can be used if marked inflammation is present (strength of recommendation: C) [35].

5 Recommendations for Treating Candidiasis in Patients with Psoriasis

Candida infections in patients with psoriasis often develop in areas that are not readily visible and are often asymptomatic. Dermatologists should be attentive to the presence of mucocutaneous Candida infections when examining a patient with psoriasis. As outlined in Table 3, dermatologists should inquire about oral or genital discomfort to identify potential oropharyngeal or genitourinary candidiasis, especially if a full-body examination is not conducted during the patient visit.

Table 3 Questions to aid in the diagnosis of candidiasis
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Based on our clinical experience, candidiasis in patients with psoriasis, who do not have other underlying immunocompromising conditions, is usually superficial and localized. Additionally, Candida infections do not typically exacerbate psoriasis. Treatment is almost always definitive, and it is uncommon for systemic dissemination to occur. Standard antifungal treatment regimens are generally safe and well tolerated in patients with psoriasis, and treatment-related complications are rare. We agree with current guidelines for the treatment of Candida infections, and Tables 1 and 2 can be used to help guide therapy decisions. Physicians should refer to their local or regional guidelines because there may be variations on available treatment options. In our experience, patients with psoriasis are generally more prone to Candida colonization and infections than patients with other chronic dermatoses. Furthermore, the treatment of candidiasis in patients with psoriasis should take into consideration that many individuals with psoriasis are receiving immunosuppressive regimens.

There is evidence to suggest that systemic antifungal therapy can improve psoriasis symptoms in patients with Candida colonization or infection [6, 8]. Such improvement may be a result of a reduction in superantigenic factors produced by Candida that activate T cells to produce cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of psoriasis [8]. Therefore, adjuvant antifungal therapy may be considered for patients with psoriasis who have high levels of Candida in their saliva or faeces [6]. In addition, all patients with psoriasis should be advised to practice good hygiene to prevent Candida infections. Dentures or removable orthodontics should be cleaned appropriately to prevent the development of biofilms, which are susceptible to C. albicans colonization [36].

Based on our clinical experience with currently available psoriasis therapies and analysis of the clinical literature, it is our recommendation that psoriasis treatment should not be altered or interrupted if patients develop candidiasis. Although candidiasis is among the most prevalent type of fungal infection in patients receiving tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) inhibitors, overall rates of infection are low, and infections are generally not severe [14, 37, 38]. A US claims database analysis highlighted that, although candidiasis infections were infrequent in patients with Crohn’s disease (176 infections/10,000 person-years in patients with Crohn’s disease vs. 94 infections/10,000 person-years in the general population), infections were more likely in patients receiving anti-TNFα therapy compared with the general population [rate ratio 2.50, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.73–3.63] and in patients receiving anti-TNFα therapy compared with those receiving no therapy (hazard ratio 2.10, 95 % CI 1.06–4.17) [14]. In an analysis of data from the Spanish BIOBADASER registry of patients with rheumatic disease treated with TNFα inhibitors, C. albicans was identified as the cause of 70 % of all fungal infections. Most C. albicans infections were oral (42.1 %) or genital (41.7 %) [38]. Among US patients receiving anti-TNFα therapy, Candida infections were more common with infliximab (10.15 cases/100,000 persons) than with etanercept (5.31 cases/100,000 persons; p = 0.061) [39, 40]. During 5 years of postmarketing surveillance in patients with moderate-to-severe psoriasis receiving adalimumab, oral candidiasis was observed at a rate of 0.1 events/100 patient-years [41]. Limited evidence is available regarding the incidence of candidiasis with other systemic agents. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, oral candidiasis was reported in 10.7 % of individuals receiving low-dose methotrexate (5–20 mg weekly) compared with 4.8 % of individuals receiving other therapies [12].

The IL-17 pathway has been demonstrated to regulate mucocutaneous defense against C. albicans through upregulation of IL-6, neutrophil-recruiting chemokines (CXCL1 and CXCL5), and antimicrobial peptides (defensins) [42]. Thus, it is not surprising that candidiasis has been reported in patients receiving treatment with IL-17 inhibitors. The IL-17A inhibitors secukinumab and ixekizumab were recently approved for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis [16, 43]. In the phase III FIXTURE study, rates of Candida infections over 52 weeks were 4.7 % with secukinumab 300 mg, 2.3 % with secukinumab 150 mg, and 1.2 % with etanercept (placebo not reported) [16]. In pooled results from the ixekizumab phase III UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3 studies, the rates of Candida infections over 12 weeks were 1.6 % with ixekizumab 80 mg every 2 weeks, 0.5 % with ixekizumab 80 mg every 4 weeks, 0.7 % with etanercept, and 0.6 % with placebo [43]. At week 12 in the smaller secukinumab phase III FEATURE and JUNCTURE trials, the rates of Candida infections were 3.4 and 0 % with secukinumab 300 mg, 1.7 and 1.6 % with secukinumab 150 mg, and 0 and 1.6 % with placebo, respectively [10, 18]. Candidiasis was also reported with brodalumab, which targets IL-17RA, a component of the IL-17A receptor. In the AMAGINE-2 and AMAGINE-3 trials, Candida infections were reported in 4.5–5.0 % of patients receiving any dose of brodalumab, and in 1.3–3.3 % of patients receiving ustekinumab [44]. These infections were generally mild, non-serious, and localized; they did not require interruption of psoriasis treatment and typically resolved with standard antifungal therapy. Thus, the risk of developing candidiasis does not appear to outweigh the benefits of therapy with biologic agents, which provide significant psoriasis disease clearance and symptom reduction. Candida infections that do occur during psoriasis treatment are generally manageable and do not warrant a change in therapy.

It is interesting to note that patients with psoriasis are more likely to develop candidiasis than normal controls since IL-17 is implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis [45]. This susceptibility is possibly due to overall immune dysregulation in patients with psoriasis. To this point, patients with psoriasis have a reduction in humoral immune responses and significantly lower levels of serum IgM, IgA, and IgG against C. albicans compared with controls [46]. Furthermore, differences is serum levels of IL-17 were not detected between patients with psoriasis and controls, but IL-17 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were significantly elevated in psoriatic skin [47]. Thus, it is not surprising that inhibition of IL-17 results in an increased rate of candidiasis as elevations in IL-17 appear to be localized to lesional skin in patients with psoriasis.

6 Conclusions

Psoriasis is associated with an increased risk for candidiasis, and therapies used to treat psoriasis may increase this risk [10]. With the availability of biologic therapies that target cytokines involved in host defense mechanisms (e.g. IL-17A), treatment-related Candida infections are to be expected in a small percentage of patients who receive these agents for the management of moderate-to-severe psoriasis. Thus, it is important for dermatologists to be aware of the symptoms of candidiasis and to know how to manage these symptoms according to current guideline recommendations. With effective management for candidiasis, psoriasis patients do not need to experience disruption in their systemic psoriasis therapies.