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

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.