Ultrasound as a screening procedure for methotrexate-induced hepatic damage in severe psoriasis

Methotrexate has been of proven value in the management of patients with severe psoriasis. Its long-term use, however, can be complicated by progressive hepatic damage which has necessitated regular liver biopsies. We have looked into the efficacy of liver ultrasonography as a non-invasive screening procedure to select those patients who may be developing liver changes. Eighty-seven investigations on 82 patients were performed, comparing liver ultrasound results with liver biopsy. Eight of these showed a degree of hepatic damage which was sufficient to indicate cessation of methotrexate, and all of these were detected by ultrasonography. Our results indicate that patients whose last liver biopsy was normal could be allowed an extended interval between biopsies provided their intervening ultrasound scans remained normal.