P Spring1, I Gschwind, M Gilliet. 1. Dermatology Clinic, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prurigo nodularis (PN), or nodular prurigo, is a chronic, debilitating, inflammatory skin disease. It can be very difficult to manage, and represents a challenge for the physician. Methotrexate (MTX) is a safe folic acid antagonist widely used in the management of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Weekly administration of 7.5-20 mg methotrexate (low-dose methotrexate, LD-MTX) represents an attractive treatment option, and could therefore find a place in the management of PN. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of LD-MTX as a treatment option for PN. METHODS: Thirteen patients who had failed to respond to conventional therapies such as topical steroids, phototherapy and antipruritic agents were treated with LD-MTX. The mean age of the patients was 75.83. Objective symptoms (Prurigo Nodularis Area and Severity Index; PNASI) and subjective symptoms (Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale; PNRS) were recorded. Treatment consisted of one subcutaneous injection of MTX 7.5-20 mg once weekly for a minimum of 6 months. Adjuvant application of emollients and topical steroids was maintained where needed. RESULTS: There was remission or marked improvement (decrease in both PNRS or PNASI of > 75%) in 10 cases, a trend to improvement in 2 cases and relapse in 1 case after treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: LD-MTX may allow improvement of PN in some patients, with long-lasting remission.
BACKGROUND:Prurigo nodularis (PN), or nodular prurigo, is a chronic, debilitating, inflammatory skin disease. It can be very difficult to manage, and represents a challenge for the physician. Methotrexate (MTX) is a safe folic acid antagonist widely used in the management of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. Weekly administration of 7.5-20 mg methotrexate (low-dose methotrexate, LD-MTX) represents an attractive treatment option, and could therefore find a place in the management of PN. AIM: To evaluate the efficacy of LD-MTX as a treatment option for PN. METHODS: Thirteen patients who had failed to respond to conventional therapies such as topical steroids, phototherapy and antipruritic agents were treated with LD-MTX. The mean age of the patients was 75.83. Objective symptoms (Prurigo Nodularis Area and Severity Index; PNASI) and subjective symptoms (Pruritus Numeric Rating Scale; PNRS) were recorded. Treatment consisted of one subcutaneous injection of MTX 7.5-20 mg once weekly for a minimum of 6 months. Adjuvant application of emollients and topical steroids was maintained where needed. RESULTS: There was remission or marked improvement (decrease in both PNRS or PNASI of > 75%) in 10 cases, a trend to improvement in 2 cases and relapse in 1 case after treatment discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS:LD-MTX may allow improvement of PN in some patients, with long-lasting remission.
Authors: Manuel P Pereira; Claudia Zeidler; Joanna Wallengren; Jon Anders Halvorsen; Elke Weisshaar; Simone Garcovich; Laurent Misery; Emilie Brenaut; Ekin Şavk; Nikolay Potekaev; Andrey Lvov; Svetlana Bobko; Jacek C Szepietowski; Adam Reich; Agnieszka Bozek; Franz J Legat; Martin Metz; Markus Streit; Esther Serra-Baldrich; Margarida Gonçalo; Michael Storck; Teresa Nau; Vincent Hoffmann; Sabine Steinke; Ina Greiwe; Martin Dugas; Matthias Augustin; Sonja Ständer Journal: Acta Derm Venereol Date: 2021-02-17 Impact factor: 3.875
Authors: John-Douglas Matthew Hughes; Taylor E Woo; Micah Belzberg; Raveena Khanna; Kyle A Williams; Madan M Kwatra; Shahzeb Hassan; Shawn G Kwatra Journal: Medicines (Basel) Date: 2020-01-08