Possibility of combined therapy with an oral phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor (apremilast) and dihydrofolatereductase inhibitor (methotrexate) in patients with psoriatic arthritis plaque psoriasis

Abstract

Background: Data on the possible combinations of apremilast with other types of psoriasis therapy is limited.
 Description of clinical cases: We present the data on the efficacy and safety of combination therapy of the selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor and dihydrofolatereductase inhibitor (methotrexate) for the treatment of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis in patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and active psoriatic arthritis with lack of efficacy of methotrexate in the anamnesis. The selective phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor (apremilast) was administered according to the prescription. The severity psoriatic arthritis of was estimated by PASI. The effectiveness of therapy was evaluated at week 14. Due to the lack of effect, methotrexate was added subcutaneously at week 14. The effectiveness of combination therapy was assessed at week 26. In both cases, the significant clinical improvement was reached (patients reached PASI 75 and PASI 90), a decrease of the psoriatic arthritis activity according to the DAS28 and DAPSA.
 Conclusion: These clinical cases demonstrate the efficacy and safety of combined therapy with methotrexate and apremilast inpatients with active psoriatic arthritis and moderate to severe plaque psoriasis.