The aim of this single-blind single-center study is to evaluate the effect of pioglitazone in psoriasis. To do this, 40 patients with plaque type psoriasis who have indication for systemic therapy and not treated with phototherapy or any systemic agent in last 6 months are recruited. After preliminary evaluations (history, physical examination, CBC, blood biochemistry, etc.) those who have renal or hepatic disease, abnormal hepatic enzymes or any major systemic disease will be excluded. Then patients are assigned to one of the study groups (pioglitazone plus methotrexate or methotrexate alone) by block randomization.
During the study if any of these major side effects occur, such as weight gain due to fluid retention and edema, decrease in Hb, WBC, or Plt, or significant increase in hepatic enzymes (more than 2.5 times of the baseline), the patient will be removed from the study. At 1, 2, 4, 6, 10 and 16 weeks patients are evaluated by psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and dermatology life quality index (DLQI) scores and finally these two groups are compared and analyzed in terms of these scores.