Survey of the Treatment of Psoriasis With Hydroxyurea

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> In 1970, Leavell and Yarbro¹reported dramatic clinical and histologic response to hydroxyurea in nine of ten cases of severe psoriasis. In 1971, Leavell and Yarbro²reported a preliminary evaluation indicating that, while methotrexate was the more effective agent, it was considerably more toxic. It has been commonly observed that in some patients liver function tests may deviate rapidly after initiation of methotrexate therapy, suggesting that the drug may aggravate existing liver disease. For this reason, an alternate method which carries less risk than methotrexate is needed in treating disabling psoriasis. Hydroxyurea is an agent which may control psoriasis with fewer reactions. The following is a summary of a questionnaire sent to 54 dermatologists regarding their experience with hydroxyurea. Thirty-three (61%) of the 54 dermatologists had used hydroxyurea and 21 (39%) had not. The former treated a total of 614 patients. Of these, 65 patients