Folic acid enhances psoriasis treatmentAnalysis of factors influencing target PASI responses and side effects of methotrexate monotherapy in plaque psoriasis: a multicenter study of 1521 patients.
We conducted an extensive analysis involving 1521 patients to understand how folic acid treatment influences psoriasis when used alongside methotrexate (MTX). Methotrexate is often the go-to first-line systemic treatment for psoriasis, and many patients in our study were treated with it for at least three months.
Among these patients, 95.2% were also taking folic acid supplements. Our findings indicated a positive link between folic acid use and achievement of PASI 90 responses, which means a drastic improvement in psoriasis severity. For instance, at week 12, 16.3% achieved this target response, and by week 24, this number rose to 37.3%.
Notably, factors like a lower median MTX dose (≤ 15 mg per week), administering MTX subcutaneously, having no prior systemic treatment, and the absence of comorbidities also contributed positively to treatment success.
However, while folic acid appeared beneficial, it did not stand out in isolation due to the complexities of treatment factors involved. Common side effects such as nausea and elevated liver enzymes were reported health concerns, but the treatment was generally considered both effective and safe.
Overall, our study emphasizes MTX as an efficient approach for psoriasis management, especially with appropriate folic acid supplementation, helping to enhance the treatment outcomes for many patients.