title: Effectiveness and safety of Methotrexate in psoriasis: an eight-year experience with 218 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methotrexate (MTX), a traditional antipsoriatic drug, is very frequently used either as monotherapy or in combination with other systemic drugs.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the effectiveness and safety of MTX in psoriasis in usual clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a retrospective study. We performed an electronic and manual chart review of patients treated with MTX in the Psoriasis Unit of our Hospital from January 2007 to December 2014. Demographic and clinical data, PASI/DLQI scores and reasons for suspension of all patients treated with MTX in usual clinical practice were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred and eighteen patients were included. MTX was administered in 67% of cases as the first systemic treatment. The average treatment duration was 17.2 ± 13.6 months. All patients were subjected to clinical and laboratory monitoring. About 33.5% of them achieved a reduction of 75% or more of the initial PASI at week 12, 34.9% at week16, 44.7% at week 24, and 52.8% at week 48. A 3.3% had to discontinue the therapy due to analytical hepatic (2.8%) or renal (0.5%) abnormalities. Only one patient experienced severe interstitial pneumonitis and none required liver biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MTX is an effective and safe option for the treatment of psoriasis in the real-world clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors.forename: Camila
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabello Zurita
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors.forename: Mercè
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grau Pérez
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos Pelayo
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hernández Fernández
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González Quesada
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valerón Almazán
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors.forename: Jaime
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vilar Alejo
authors.affiliation: a Department of Dermatology , Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Doctor Negrín, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria , Canary Islands , Spain.
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carretero Hernández
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D056486:Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury / Q000209:etiology; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D008727:Methotrexate
keywords: Methotrexate; effectiveness; psoriasis; real-world clinical practice; safety