Liver biopsies from psoriatics related to methotrexate therapy. 1. Findings in 123 consecutive non-methotrexate treated patients.

A prospective study was started in 1969 to describe morphological features of liver biopsies from patients with severe psoriasis. Among 123 patients evaluated for possible MTX therapy, liver biopsies disclosed pathological histology (maninly fatty change and/or non-specific reactive hepatitis) in 51 per cent. The incidence of pathological liver histology did not statistically correlate with psoriasis parameters such as duration and extent. However, statistically significant correlations (p less than 0.0001) were found between the frequency of pathological liver histology and other factors such as age, obesity, and daily alcholic intake. Comparison of liver histology with SGOT value at the time of liver biopsy showed that while the diagnostic specificy of this test high (1.00), the diagnostic was low (0.17). Normal values of SGOT should not be relied upon to indicate all types of liver pathology. A "risk index" indicating the probability of pathological liver histology was developed. It is calculated as follows: two times the height (cm) minus weight (kg) minus age (years) minus 50 (in case of daily alcoholic intake) minus 50 (in case of elevated SGOT). To elucidate liver histology and particularly to rule out fibrosis and cirrhosis, a liver biopsy should be performed in every psoriatic patient with a low score in the risk index prior to beginning MTX therapy.