Methotrexate Treatment for Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris: A Case Series and Literature Review

Lukas Koch1, Clemens Schöffl, Werner Aberer

  • 1Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, AT-8036 Graz, Austria.

Insights

Methotrexate is an effective treatment for pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP), a rare skin condition. This review of 116 patients shows significant improvement and good safety, supporting its use.

Area of Science:

  • Dermatology
  • Clinical Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pityriasis rubra pilaris (PRP) lacks randomized controlled trials for treatment guidance.
  • Current recommendations rely on limited case reports and small series.

Observation:

  • This study includes a case series of 3 patients and a literature review of 28 studies (116 patients).
  • Methotrexate efficacy and safety in PRP treatment were evaluated.

Findings:

  • Methotrexate demonstrated an overall response rate of 65.5% in the initial review.
  • After excluding unreliable data, the response rate improved to 90.9%, with 40.9% complete clearing.
  • 12.9% of patients experienced adverse reactions, mostly mild.

Implications:

  • The findings support methotrexate as a viable and safe therapeutic option for pityriasis rubra pilaris.
  • Further research may establish standardized treatment protocols for PRP.

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