History of Methotrexate and Use in Psoriasis

Since the 1950s, methotrexate (MTX) has been an effective treatment for patients with psoriasis. Although initially used as an antineoplastic drug, in recent history, MTX has become useful for the treatment of a broad range of non-neoplastic proliferative dermatoses, particularly psoriasis. The guidelines for use of MTX in psoriasis patients provide a unique perspective of the discoveries and new information that we have learned about MTX over the years. In this historical review, we analyze the development of MTX and the circumstances that led to its use as an effective treatment for psoriasis.