Combined methotrexate-PUVA therapy in the treatment of psoriasis.
Thirty patients with psoriasis were treated with a 3-week course of methotrexate followed by a combination of PUVA therapy and methotrexate. When lesions cleared to less than 1% UVA-exposed body involvement, the methotrexate was stopped and PUVA therapy alone was used as maintenance therapy. This protocol achieved clearance of disease in twenty-eight of the thirty patients in a mean of 5.7 (+/- 1.0) weeks, with 9.3 (+/- 3.0) exposures to PUVA therapy and a final UVA radiation dose at clearance of 6.2 (+/- 2.5) J/cm2. The mean total dose of methotrexate was 93.0 mg (range, 67.5-127.5 mg). The only significant adverse effect seen was prolonged phototoxicity in eight patients. By reducing the total cumulative exposure dose of PUVA therapy, this treatment may reduce long-term side effects.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011701:PUVA Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010778:Photochemotherapy; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*
D008727:Methotrexate