Morphogenesis of fibrosis and cirrhosis in methotrexate-treated patients with psoriasis

Serial liver biopsies before and after Methotrexate therapy were performed in each of eight patients with severe, recalcitrant psoriasis treated for years with Methotrexate in a single, weekly, oral dose not exceeding 25 mg per dose. A total of 31 liver biopsies was studied. The study revealed liver damage commencing with small foci of piecemeal necrosis, followed by the destruction of the limiting plate and the occurrence of stellate periportal fibrosis. Eventually, partial and then whole fibrous septa developed between portal tracts and between portal tracts and central veins, with resultant distortions of the lobular architecture. In two patients with an admitted daily alcoholic intake, additional findings were seen, including alcoholic hepatitis, centrilobular fibrosis and development of partial and whole fibrous septa between the central vein area, and portal tracts adding to the number of septa running between the portal tracts and central veins which split up the lobules. The following conclusions seem probable: 1) Methotrexate therapy in psoriatics may cause development of fibrosis or cirrhosis; 2) the morphological changes during this development follow a consistent pattern; and 3) the pathogenesis of the development of fibrosis and cirrhosis is mixed in some cases, being dependent on both alcoholic and Methotrexate intake.