The treatment of severe psoriasis. A national survey.

In 1974, we conducted a randomized survey of dermatologists to determine trends in the use of chemotherapeutic agents for psoriasis. The present survey updates and extends the earlier one to include phototherapy, photochemotherapy, and other modalities being used in the treatment of psoriasis too extensive or severe for topical agents alone. Questionnaires were sent to approximately 20% of dermatologists nationwide and also to all training/research programs. Results of the survey include: (1) approximately 523,000 patients with psoriasis were treated by dermatologists in 1984, and 30% of these were severe enough to require more than topical care; (2) the majority of dermatologists use ultraviolet B (71%) and methotrexate (58%), while 36% use psoralen and ultraviolet A; (3) creatinine clearance rates and liver biopsy specimens are being obtained for approximately half of methotrexate-treated patients; and (4) of those physicians using methotrexate, most (74%) use weekly divided orally administered methotrexate doses.