An Open-Labelled Randomised Comparative Evaluation of Therapeutic Efficacy and Safety of Apremilast Versus Methotrexate in the Treatment of Patients With Chronic Plaque Psoriasis

Abstract

Psoriasis is a chronic immune mediated papulosquamous disorder causing disfiguring changes in skin hair and nails.Methotrexate is a time tested drug in the treatment of psoriasis for decades but there are only fewer studies available regarding the efficacy and safety of apremilast. Hence this study is done to compare the both in terms of safety and efficacy. MATERIALS AND METHODSThis open labelled clinical study was conducted in the Dermatology department of a tertiary care hospital for a period of 1 year. Forty patients above 18 years of age with chronic plaque psoriasis involving >10% BSA were included in the study after taking the informed consent. RESULTSAt the end of 12 weeks, patients treated with Apremilast showed 92.64% improvement in their baseline PASI score compared to 88.26% improvement shown by the Methotrexate group patients. Apremilast is a better drug with good efficacy and safety profile which does not warrant regular monitoring of blood parameters in patients requiring long term systemic therapy.