Background: Methotrexate is a well-known standard therapy for psoriasis. The standard regimen is using six (2.5 mg) tablets/week that might be with many side effects. Objective: Finding a new regimen for oral methotrexate aiming to decrease side effects and increase its effectiveness. Patients and Methods: This therapeutic, comparative study done at the Center of Dermatology, Medical city, from October 2017 to October 2018. Fifty-three patients with moderate to severe psoriasis completed the study. They were divided into: Group (A) (27) patients were treated with the new oral regimen and Group (B) (26) patients were treated with the six tablets/week. Investigations including CBC, LFT and RFT were done. PASI score, BSA and side effects especially gastrointestinal ones were recorded. Results: They were 29 males and 24 females. Age ranged from 18 - 67 years. Disease duration ranged from 1 - 30 years. BSA involved ranged from 20% - 79%. The PASI score ranged from 10.2 - 45.7. After 8 weeks of treatment, there was statistically significant difference (p-value > 0.001) regarding PASI score and gastrointestinal side effects being less in Group (A). Group A patients were more satisfied. Conclusion: The new regimen used in the present study has lower gastrointestinal side effects and more efficacy.
References
[1]
Burden, A.D. and Kirby, B. (2016) Psoriasis and Related Disorders. In: Griffiths, C., Barker, J., Bleiker, T., Chalmers, R. and Creamer, D., Eds., Rook’s Textbook of Dermatology, 9th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, New Delhi, 1-48. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118441213
[2]
Gudjonsson, J.E. and Elder, J.T. (2012) Psoriasis. In: Wolff, K., Goldsmith, L.A., Katz, S.I., Gilchrest, B.A., Paller, A.S. and Leffell, D.J., Eds., Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine, 8th Edition, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Singapore, 197-231. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1524-4725.2008.34211.x
[3]
Bowcock, A.M. and Krueger, J.G. (2005) Getting under the Skin: The Immunogenetics of Psoriasis. Nature Reviews Immunology, 5, 699-711.
[4]
Jeffes III, E.W.B., McCullough, J.L. and Pittelkow, M.R. (1995) Methotrexate Therapy of Psoriasis. Differential Sensitivity of Proliferating Lymphoid and Epithelial Cells to the Cytotoxic and Growth-Inhibitory Effects of Methotrexate. Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 104, 183-188. https://doi.org/10.1111/1523-1747.ep12612745
[5]
Sigmundsdottir, H., Johnston, A. and Gudjonsson, J.E. (2004) Methotrexate Markedly Reduces the Expression of Vascular E-Selectin, Cutaneous Lymphocyte-Associated Antigen and the Numbers of Mononuclear Leucocytes in Psoriatic Skin. Experimental Dermatology, 13, 426-434. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0906-6705.2004.00177.x
Weinstein, G.D. and Frost, P. (1971) Methotrexate for Psoriasis: A New Therapeutic Schedule. Archives of Dermatology, 103, 33-38. https://doi.org/10.1001/archderm.103.1.33
[8]
https://www.dermnetnz.org/topics/pasi-score/
[9]
Lomholt, G. (1963) Psoriasis: Prevalence, Spontaneous Course and Genetics. GEC Gad, Copenhagen, 78-189.
[10]
Warren, R.B., Chalmers, R.J.G., Griffiths, C.E.M. and Menter, A. (2008) Methotrexate for Psoriasis in the Era of Biological Therapy. Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, 33, 551-554. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.02976.x
[11]
Menting, S.P., Dekker, P.M., Limpens, J., Hooft, L. and Spuls, P.I. (2016) Methotrexate Dosing Regimen for Plaque-Type Psoriasis: A Systematic Review of the Use of Test-Dose, Start-Dose, Dosing Scheme, Dose Adjustments, Maximum Dose and Folic Acid Supplementation. Acta Dermato-Venereologica, 96, 23-29. https://doi.org/10.2340/00015555-2081
[12]
Barker, J., Horn, E.J., Lebwohl, M., Warren, R.B., Nast, A. and Rosenberg, W. (2011) Assessment and Management of Methotrexate Hepatotoxicity in Psoriasis Patients: Report from a Consensus Conference to Evaluate Current Practice and Identify Key Questions toward Optimizing Methotrexate Use in the Clinic. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 25, 758-764. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-3083.2010.03932.x
[13]
Gyulai, R., Bagot, M., Griffiths, C.E., Luger, T., Naldi, L. and Paul, C. (2015) Current Practice of Methotrexate Use for Psoriasis: Results of a Worldwide Survey among Dermatologists. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 29, 224-231. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.12495