Role of hydroxyurea in psoriasis - a review

Most of the patients of psoriasis have a chronic course with the need for continuous control of disease activity. Patients with moderate-to-severe disease usually require phototherapy, photochemotherapy or systemic agents (e.g. cyclosporin, methotrexate, oral retinoids, fumaric acid esters) to control their disease adequately. In general these therapeutic modalities have proven to be highly effective in the treatment of psoriasis. However, potentially serious toxicity can limit their long term use. In this respect, hydroxyurea compares favourably with methotrexate which has a potential for producing irreversible hepatic damage and cyclosporin A with its potential for doserelated nephrotoxicity. Hydroxyurea, a hydroxylated molecule of urea is commonly used to treat chronic myelogeneous leukemia and polycythemia vera. Recent studies suggest it as an alternative to methotrexate in moderate-to-severe psoriasis.