Comparative Assessment of Efficacy and Safety of Cyclosporine versus Methotrexate in Psoriasis

Background: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated inflammatory skin disorder that requires systemic therapy for moderate to severe cases.Methotrexate and cyclosporine are two of the most extensively used conventional systemic drugs; each has distinct safety, efficacy, and commencement of action features.Methods: This hospital-based comparative study was conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, in collaboration with the Dept of Dermatology, Santosh Medical College and Hospital, Ghaziabad, from Oct 2024 to Oct 2025.84 patients who satisfied the requirements for inclusion were enrolled.The methotrexate group got 2.5 mg three times at 12-hour intervals, whereas the cyclosporine group received two split doses of 3 mg/kg/day for 12 weeks.The primary efficacy indicator was the percentage decrease in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score at 12 weeks compared to baseline.Some laboratory tests were conducted to assess safety using haematological, hepatic, and renal parameters, as well as the documentation of adverse drug reactions.Results: Comorbidities and baseline parameters were similar between groups (p>0.05).The cyclosporine group had a considerably higher mean reduction in PASI (10.33±6.12)than the methotrexate group (4.76±3.36),suggesting that cyclosporine is more effective in the short term (p