Cancer-free survival of psoriasis patients treated with methotrexate and cyclosporine combination

Cutan Ocul Toxicol. 2014 Sep;33(3):181-3. doi: 10.3109/15569527.2013.825805. Epub 2013 Aug 15.

Abstract

Context: Combination of methotrexate and cyclosporine was used and reported to be effective for recalcitrant psoriasis patients. Also each agent is accused for development of malignancies.

Objective: To evaluate the cancer-free survival of psoriasis patients who received methotrexate and cyclosporine treatment at the same time.

Methods: Psoriasis patients who had been treated with combination of cyclosporine and methotrexate between March 2000 and April 2005 were questioned in 2011. A diagnosis of new cancer during follow-up period was asked and also each patient was evaluated by a questionnaire.

Results: Seventeen psoriasis patients were not treated due to a diagnosis of new cancer during the follow-up period. Also none of them complained of possible symptoms of skin or lymphoproliferative malignancies. The median follow-up time was 76 months.

Conclusion: Psoriasis patients who had been treated with methotrexate and cyclosporine combination did not report a detected malignant disease.

Keywords: Cyclosporine; malignancy; methotrexate; psoriasis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cyclosporine / therapeutic use*
  • Dermatologic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Male
  • Methotrexate / therapeutic use*
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy*
  • Psoriasis / epidemiology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Turkey / epidemiology

Substances

  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Cyclosporine
  • Methotrexate