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Methotrexate versus hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) as a weekly dose to treat moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis: a comparative study.
J Dermatolog Treat. 2007; 18(5):295-300.JD

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Literature is replete with reports on the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate or hydroxycarbamide for treating chronic plaque psoriasis but no comparative study on their efficacy/safety has been carried out. While methotrexate has long been used in weekly doses in the treatment of psoriasis, the efficacy of hydroxycarbamide as a weekly therapy remains universally unexplored.

METHODS

Two groups of 15 patients each having moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis were given weekly doses of methotrexate (15-20 mg/week) or hydroxycarbamide (3-4.5 g/week). The clinical response was assessed by the percentage reduction in the baseline PASI scores for the next 12 weeks.

RESULTS

At the end of 12 weeks, the mean percentage reduction in the PASI score was 77.28+/-18.80 in the methotrexate group and 48.47+/-26.53 in the hydroxycarbamide group. Ten (66.66%) patients in the methotrexate group achieved >75% reduction in the PASI score, while in the hydroxycarbamide group only two (13.33%) patients showed similar results, signifying that methotrexate leads to a faster clearance of the disease. The methotrexate-related side effects, however, were also higher.

CONCLUSIONS

Weekly doses of hydroxycarbamide can be used as an alternative to methotrexate in patients who either experience intolerable methotrexate side effects or have achieved its recommended cumulative dose.

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Authors+Show Affiliations

Ranjan N
Department of Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy, Indira Gandhi Medical College, Shimla, India.
Sharma NL
No affiliation info available
Shanker V
No affiliation info available
Mahajan VK
No affiliation info available
Tegta GR
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Administration, OralAdolescentAdultAgedDermatologic AgentsDrug Administration ScheduleFemaleHumansHydroxyureaMaleMethotrexateMiddle AgedPsoriasisSeverity of Illness IndexSkinTreatment Outcome

Pub Type(s)

Clinical Trial
Comparative Study
Journal Article

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17852635

Citation

Ranjan, Nitin, et al. "Methotrexate Versus Hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) as a Weekly Dose to Treat Moderate-to-severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: a Comparative Study." The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, vol. 18, no. 5, 2007, pp. 295-300.
Ranjan N, Sharma NL, Shanker V, et al. Methotrexate versus hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) as a weekly dose to treat moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis: a comparative study. J Dermatolog Treat. 2007;18(5):295-300.
Ranjan, N., Sharma, N. L., Shanker, V., Mahajan, V. K., & Tegta, G. R. (2007). Methotrexate versus hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) as a weekly dose to treat moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis: a comparative study. The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 18(5), 295-300.
Ranjan N, et al. Methotrexate Versus Hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) as a Weekly Dose to Treat Moderate-to-severe Chronic Plaque Psoriasis: a Comparative Study. J Dermatolog Treat. 2007;18(5):295-300. PubMed PMID: 17852635.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Methotrexate versus hydroxycarbamide (hydroxyurea) as a weekly dose to treat moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis: a comparative study. AU - Ranjan,Nitin, AU - Sharma,Nand Lal, AU - Shanker,Vinay, AU - Mahajan,Vikram K, AU - Tegta,Gita Ram, PY - 2007/9/14/pubmed PY - 2007/12/6/medline PY - 2007/9/14/entrez SP - 295 EP - 300 JF - The Journal of dermatological treatment JO - J Dermatolog Treat VL - 18 IS - 5 N2 - BACKGROUND: Literature is replete with reports on the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of methotrexate or hydroxycarbamide for treating chronic plaque psoriasis but no comparative study on their efficacy/safety has been carried out. While methotrexate has long been used in weekly doses in the treatment of psoriasis, the efficacy of hydroxycarbamide as a weekly therapy remains universally unexplored. METHODS: Two groups of 15 patients each having moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis were given weekly doses of methotrexate (15-20 mg/week) or hydroxycarbamide (3-4.5 g/week). The clinical response was assessed by the percentage reduction in the baseline PASI scores for the next 12 weeks. RESULTS: At the end of 12 weeks, the mean percentage reduction in the PASI score was 77.28+/-18.80 in the methotrexate group and 48.47+/-26.53 in the hydroxycarbamide group. Ten (66.66%) patients in the methotrexate group achieved >75% reduction in the PASI score, while in the hydroxycarbamide group only two (13.33%) patients showed similar results, signifying that methotrexate leads to a faster clearance of the disease. The methotrexate-related side effects, however, were also higher. CONCLUSIONS: Weekly doses of hydroxycarbamide can be used as an alternative to methotrexate in patients who either experience intolerable methotrexate side effects or have achieved its recommended cumulative dose. SN - 0954-6634 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/17852635/Methotrexate_versus_hydroxycarbamide__hydroxyurea__as_a_weekly_dose_to_treat_moderate_to_severe_chronic_plaque_psoriasis:_a_comparative_study_ L2 - https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09546630701499291 DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -