Guidelines of care for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis: section 4. Guidelines of care for the management and treatment of psoriasis with traditional systemic agents

J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009 Sep;61(3):451-85. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2009.03.027. Epub 2009 Jun 3.

Abstract

Psoriasis is a common, chronic, inflammatory, multisystem disease with predominantly skin and joint manifestations affecting approximately 2% of the population. In this fourth of 6 sections of the guidelines of care for psoriasis, we discuss the use of traditional systemic medications for the treatment of patients with psoriasis. Treatment should be tailored to meet individual patients' needs. We will discuss in detail the efficacy and safety, and offer recommendations for the use of the 3 most commonly used, and approved, traditional systemic agents: methotrexate, cyclosporine, and acitretin. We will also briefly discuss the available data for the use of azathioprine, fumaric acid esters, hydroxyurea, leflunomide, mycophenolate mofetil, sulfasalazine, tacrolimus, and 6-thioguanine in psoriasis.

Publication types

  • Consensus Development Conference

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Psoriatic / drug therapy*
  • Dermatologic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Dermatology / standards
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • PUVA Therapy*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Psoriasis / drug therapy

Substances

  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents