[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 psoriatic patients treated with methotrexate.

Material And Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of psoriatic patients treated with methotrexate between the years 2000 and 2005. All patients received a minimum of 7.5 mg weekly of methotrexate, for at least 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% 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.