Weekly psoriasis therapy using intralesional fluorouracil

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin condition.
• Topical treatments for psoriasis can have limitations in efficacy and speed of response.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekly intralesional fluorouracil for treating psoriatic papules and plaques.

Main Methods:

• Eleven patients received weekly intralesional injections of fluorouracil (50 mg/ml) into psoriatic lesions.
• Control lesions were left untreated for comparison.
• Lesion response and side effects were monitored over time.

Main Results:

• Treated lesions showed an average of 4.2 cm2 clearing, while control lesions showed no improvement.
• Earliest signs of improvement were observed within 2 weeks, with maximum clearing around 4 weeks.
• Four out of nine patients with a favorable response remained in remission at 3-month follow-up.
• Adverse effects were localized, including hyperpigmentation and mild to moderate irritation; no systemic toxicity was reported.

Conclusions:

• Weekly intralesional fluorouracil is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for psoriasis.
• Intralesional administration offers faster therapeutic response compared to topical application.
• The treatment provides localized efficacy with potential for long-term benefit.