Efecto de la dieta en psoriasis moderada a severa, en pacientes con sobrepeso y obesos con tratamiento tópico y sistémico con metotrexato / Effect of diet on moderate or severe psoriasis in patients with obese and overweight under treatment with topical and systemic methotrexate

INTRODUCTION: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease with significant impact on quality of life. There are environmental factors that can change the course of the disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether moderate weight loss, improves response to methotrexate in obese or overweight patients who suffer from the disease. METHODOLOGY: A controlled pilot project of 8 weeks was performed in 15 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis under treatment with Methotrexate and topical therapy. The intervention corresponded to a nutritional assessment, a strict diet and physical activity suggestion. Patients were evaluated using PASI, at 0, 4 and 8 weeks. RESULTS: After 8 weeks, mean PASI decreased by 13% and a decrease in weight, BMI and waist circumference was achieved, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: Further studies are required to demonstrate the importance of weight loss in obese or overweight psoriatic patients under methotrexate treatment.

INTRODUCCIÓN: La Psoriasis es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica con importante impacto en la calidad de vida.Existen factores ambientalesque pueden modificar el curso de la enfermedad. OBJETIVO: Investigar si una pérdida moderada de peso, aumenta la respuesta a Metotrexato en pacientes obesos o con sobrepeso que padecen la enfermedad. METODOLOGÍA: Proyecto Piloto, controlado, de 8 semanas en 15 pacientes con psoriasis moderada a severa,en tratamiento con Metotrexato y terapia tópica, atendidos en Santiago de Chile. La intervención correspondió a una evaluación nutricional, una dieta estricta y sugerencia de actividad física. Los pacientes fueron evaluadas con PASI, a las 0, 4 y 8 semanas. RESULTADOS: Después de 8 semanas, se logró una disminución del PASI promedio en un 13% y una disminución del peso, IMC y circunferencia abdominal, pero sin significancia estadística. CONCLUSIÓN: Se requieren realizar estudios con un mayor número de pacientes para demostrar la importancia de una disminución de peso en el tratamiento con metotrexato en pacientes psoriáticos obesos o con sobrepeso.

Análisis del resultado de pruebas hepáticas en pacientes psoriáticos tratados con metotrexato: Estudio retrospectivo / Serum liver tests in patients treated with methotrexate: A retrospective analysis

Background: Methotrexate is one of the best systemic treatments for psoriasis. However it has significant adverse effects such as myelotoxicity and hepatotoxicity. Aim: To evaluate serum liver test in psoríatic patients treated with methotrexate. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of psoríatic patients treated with methotrexate between the years 2000 and 2005. All patients received a minimum of 7.5 mg weekly of methotrexate, for at íeast 4 weeks. Results: Sixty three patients were included. Mean cumulative dose of methotrexate was 576 mg. Thirty two percent had alterations in liver tests, but only 9 percent had values that duplicated the upper limit of normal range of aminotransferases or alkaline phosphatases or a serum bilirubin over 2 mg/dl. We did not find a direct relationship between the dose of methotrexate and the magnitude of liver test alterations. Only one patient exceeded 1.5 g as cumulative dose. A liver biopsy performed to him, did not show signs of fibrosis. Conclusions: This retrospective study does not show a direct relationship between weekly doses, cumulated dose and length of treatment with methotrexate, and the degree of alteration of serum liver tests.