People at high cardiovascular risk might have greater odds of acute coronary syndrome or stroke in the first few months on ustekinumab, researchers warn after conducting a large observational study.

Patients with psoriasis or Crohn’s disease prescribed the biologic had greater likelihood of a severe cardiovascular (CV) event in the first six months on therapy if they already had CV risk factors or a history of atherothrombotic disease, they found. 

The researchers used a database covering 98% of the French population to find all patients prescribed ustekinumab between 2010 and 2016.

Some 9290 of people had exposure to the therapy (52% male, mean age 43 years) with 86% on the anti-interleukin 12/23p40 antibody for psoriasis while 12% were prescribed it for Crohn’s disease.