Abstract
Background:
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has demonstrated certain efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis, a chronic papulosquamous skin disease. However, in rare instances, the use of TCM may exacerbate cutaneous lesions. This study aims to explore whether the methotrexate (MTX) component in TCM may increase the risk of cutaneous ulceration in patients with psoriasis. MTX is also an immunosuppressive agent widely used in the treatment of various dermatologic conditions.
Methods:
We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of five patients who developed painful skin ulcers at primary psoriatic sites after taking TCM. Evaluated indicators included hemocytopenia, liver function, serum MTX concentration, and ABCB1 gene polymorphisms. Histopathological examination was also performed on ulcerative tissue samples.
Results:
Among the five patients, two developed hemocytopenia and two had abnormal liver function. Serum MTX concentrations in two patients ranged from 0.03 to 0.11 μmol/L (<0.1 μmol/L at 72 h after MTX administration). The ABCB1 genotypes AA and AG were detected in two different patients. Histopathological findings revealed dyskeratosis of keratinocytes, dermal vasodilation, and inflammatory cell infiltration. Rescue treatment with oral folic acid was administered to three patients, leading to complete healing of all lesions within two weeks. The remaining two patients showed gradual improvement in skin ulcers after discontinuing TCM.
Conclusions:
TCM containing MTX may induce skin ulceration in rare cases among patients with psoriasis.
Introduction
Methotrexate (MTX) is an anti-folate drug possessing immunosuppressive, anti-proliferative, and anti-inflammatoryactivities (1). This drug has been used to treat many diseases including cancers, ectopic pregnancy, and rheumatoid arthritis (1–3). Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated papulosquamous skin disease (4). MTX has a significant therapeutic effect on various types of psoriasis and is considered the first-line drug for systemic treatment of psoriasis (5, 6). The recommended maximum dose of MTX varies in different diseases. High-dose of MTX is used in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma (2), whereas low-dose of MTX is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis (7).
MTX can cause a variety of adverse effects, such as bone marrow suppression, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and skin damage (8–10). Although relatively rare, several cases of cutaneous ulceration have been reported in psoriasis patients treated with low-dose MTX (11–13). Berna, R. et al. reviewed 114 cases of methotrexate-associated skin ulcers through the PubMed and Embase databases, of which 19 cases (16.7%) presented as localized ulcers (14). ABCB1 gene polymorphisms can influence MTX transport under different pathological conditions (15). In patients with psoriasis, ABCB1 gene polymorphisms play a significant role in the efficacy of MTX.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is an alternative and effective treatment option for patients with psoriasis (16, 17). However, there have also been individual cases in which cutaneous lesions worsened after taking TCM (18). The mechanisms underlying TCM-induced adverse skin reactions remain unclear. This study aims to investigate whether the MTX component contained in TCM may increase the risk of cutaneous ulceration in patients with psoriasis.
Materials and methods
This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of five psoriasis patients who presented with painful skin ulcers as the main manifestation after oral administration of TCM from April 2019 to February 2025. The inclusion criteria were as follows: a confirmed diagnosis of psoriasis; clinical presentation primarily characterized by painful skin ulcers; a clear history of compound TCM use, with either detectable MTX content in the compound TCM taken by the patient, or detectable serum MTX after TCM administration, or histopathological findings consistent with MTX-induced skin toxicity, or complete healing of skin ulcers within two weeks after folic acid supplementation; all enrolled patients signed written informed consent permitting the disclosure of their case-related information.
Laboratory evaluations included assessments of hemocytopenia, liver function, and serum MTX concentration. Two patients underwent ABCB1 gene polymorphism testing. The procedure was as follows: Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood of the subjects using the MagPure Buffy Coat DNA Midi KF Kit. The DNA was then randomly fragmented into segments primarily ranging from 100 to 500 base pairs using BGI's enzyme kit (Segmentase, BGI). Magnetic bead enrichment was performed to select DNA fragments between 280 and 320 base pairs. After end repair and A-tailing, T4 DNA ligase was used to ligate adapters containing barcode sequences. The ligated products were purified using Axygen beads, followed by LM-PCR amplification to enrich DNA fragments flanked by the adapters, thereby constructing individual DNA libraries for each patient. The libraries were hybridized and enriched using a capture chip. The enriched products were quantified with an Agilent 2,100 Bioanalyzer and BMG, then pooled in equimolar amounts. A total of 160 ng of the pooled DNA was used for single-strand separation and circularization, yielding single-stranded circular DNA libraries with one adapter. Finally, gene sequencing was performed using the MGISEQ-2000 platform developed by BGI. In addition, ulcer biopsies from two patients were subjected to histopathological analysis.
We quantified the methotrexate content in the compound capsules of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) taken by the patients. The analysis was conducted using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) system (Waters ACQUITY UPLC H-Class system coupled with a Waters Xevo TQ-S micro mass spectrometer), employing the MRM (multiple reaction monitoring) method for quantification. Detailed methodology: The TCM capsules were ground into a powder, and 0.5 g of the powder was weighed and mixed with 10 ml of methanol. The mixture underwent ultrasonic extraction for one hour, followed by centrifugation at 12,000 rpm for 10 min at 4°C. For liquid capsules, the supernatant was directly subjected to mass spectrometric analysis.
Results
Tables 1, 2 list the main clinical findings observed in the five patients. In addition to the ulceration in primary psoriatic lesions, one case showed oral ulceration and two cases gastrointestinal discomfort (i.e., diarrhea and nausea). Laboratory examinations revealed two cases of hemocytopenia and two abnormal liver function. Two cases showed serum MTX concentration of 0.03–0.11 μmol/L (<0.1 mol/L 72 h after MTX intaking), while the remaining patients had undetectable levels, likely due to the prolonged interval since MTX discontinuation. Among the two patients tested for ABCB1polymorphisms, one patient had the ABCB1genotype AA and the other AG, the remaining three patients refused examination due to financial reasons. Analysis of ulcer biopsies showed dyskeratosis of keratinocytes, focal dermis-epidermal separation, dermal vasodilation, and infiltration of multiple inflammatory cells including neutrophils, eosinophils, and lymphocytes.
Table 1
| Case No. | Age, year/sex | Past history | Clinical manifestations | Name of Chinese herbal medicine taken | The dosage of MTX used | Source of MTX dosage selection | Time of ulcer onset after taking MTX | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cutaneous involvement | Mucosal involvement | Others | |||||||
| 1 | 59/female | Vitiligo | Bright red erosive lesions on the lip mucosa; desquamative erythematous plaques with partial erosions on the lower back and buttocks | Oral ulcers | Diarrhea | Anti-Relapse No. 1 Capsule” (Manufacturer: Tangshan Jingdong Dermatology Research Institute) | 15 mg/w | Self-doubled dosage | 1 Week |
| 2 | 61/male | Post-appendectomy | Generalized erythema with desquamation and scattered painful ulcers | – | – | No official name* | 15 mg/w | Prescribed dosage | 1 month |
| 3 | 36/male | – | Scattered painful ulcers within plaques on the trunk and both lower limbs | – | Diarrhea | No official name* | 15 mg/w | Prescribed dosage | 1 month |
| 4 | 68/male | Postoperative duodenal ulcer | Scattered ulcers within psoriatic plaques on the trunk and limbs. | – | – | No official name* | 15 mg/w | Prescribed dosage | 1 month |
| 5 | 67/male | – | Large scaly erythematous plaques on the trunk and limbs, with multiple crusted ulcers on the plaques. | – | – | No official name* | 15 mg/w | Prescribed dosage | 1 month |
Clinical manifestations of the five cases.
Because of China's cultural traditions of “experienced traditional Chinese medicine practitioners and folk remedies”, some folk remedies and privately formulated medicines lack official names and manufacturers.
Table 2
| Case No. | Biological data | Serum MTX level (u mol/L) | ABCB1 genotype | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WBC (×10−9/L) | Hb (g/L) | PLT (×10−9/L) | Deranged liver function | |||
| 1 | 5.99 | 134 | 294 | AST: 90 U/L ALT: 85 U/L |
0.11 | AA |
| 2 | 8.93 | 110 | 552 | Albumin: 21 g/L | Unmeasured | Unmeasured |
| 3 | 4.47 | 130 | 57 | N | 0 | Unmeasured |
| 4 | 6.53 | 147 | 340 | N | Unmeasured | Unmeasured |
| 5 | 1.46 | 136 | 16 | N | 0.04 | AG |
Laboratory analysis performed for the five cases.
MTX, methotrexate; N, normal range; Hb, serum hemoglobin level: Normal range 130–175 g/L; PLT, platelet count: Normal range 125–350 × 10−9/L; Albumin: Normal range 35–55 g/L; ALT, alanine aminotransferase: Normal range 8–40 U/L; AST, aspartate aminotransferase: Normal range 5–40 U/L; WBC, white blood cell: Normal range 4.0–10.0 × 10−9/L.
Oral folic acid was given in three patients, resulting in complete healing of all lesions within two weeks (Table 3). The remaining two patients showed gradual improvement after discontinuing the TCM. Figures 1–5 shows the lesion changes in these five cases before and after treatment with folic acid. Figure 6 demonstrates the histopathological images for Case 4.
Figure 1
(a–d) The changes in the bilateral upper limb lesions in Case 1 before (a,b) and one week after folic acid supplementation (c,d).
Figure 2
(a,b) Skin lesion characteristics of the lower limbs and back in Case 2 before treatment.
Figure 3
Skin lesion characteristics of Case 3 before treatment.
Figure 4
(a,b) Skin lesion characteristics of Case 4 before treatment and 3 weeks after discontinuing TCM compound capsules containing MTX.
Figure 5
(a–f) The changes in the lesions on the back, flexor sides of both lower limbs, and dorsum of both hands in Case 5 before (a–c) and one week after folic acid supplementation treatment (d–f).
Figure 6
A(40×), b(100×): illustrative histopathological images of Case 4. (a) Thick parakeratosis, epidermal necrosis, ulcer formation, dermal vasodilation, and inflammatory cells in the dermis. (b) High-power view of parakeratosis with neutrophilic abscess, dyskeratosis of keratinocytes, focal dermis-epidermal separation, and scattered lymphocytes in the dermis.
Table 3
| Case No. | Treatment | Time to skin resolution | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug discontinuation | Folic acid supplement | ||
| 1 | TCM | 10 mgTid | 1 week |
| 2 | TCM | – | 4 weeks |
| 3 | TCM | 10 mgTid | 2 weeks |
| 4 | TCM | – | 4 weeks |
| 5 | TCM | 10 mg Tid | 1 week |
Treatment and outcome of the five cases.
Discussion
This study reports five cases of psoriasis patients who developed skin ulcers after taking MTX-containing TCM. MTX is a cytotoxic drug structurally similar to folic acid. After entering cells via the reduced folate carrier (RFC-1), MTX irreversibly binds to the enzyme dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), preventing the formation of tetrahydrofolate (19). As a result, it competitively inhibits the S phase of cell division and suppresses cell proliferation, thus preferentially affecting actively proliferating cells (20). In psoriasis, proliferating lymphocytes and epithelial cells may become targets of MTX (19). Folate deficiency within psoriatic lesions may lead to the selective accumulation of MTX, thereby enhancing its cytotoxic effects (21). MTX-induced skin ulcers in psoriasis can be classified into two types (22): type I ulcers occur on psoriatic plaques, while type II ulcers appear outside of psoriatic lesions. Type I ulcers are generally shallower than type II ulcers. In this study, all five patients exhibited type I ulcers after oral administration of TCM.
MTX toxicity is influenced by multiple factors including drug dose, renal insufficiency, advanced age, folate level, serum albumin reduction, and gene polymorphism (10, 11, 23). As the kidney is responsible for the elimination of MTX, decreased renal function with age contributes to MTX toxicity (23). In this study, four of the five patients were over 55 years old. Therefore, MTX toxicity tends to occur in older patients. Two cases showed serum MTX concentration of 0.03–0.11 μmol/L (<0.1 mol/L 72 h after MTX intaking), suggesting that MTX overdose may also account for the painful skin ulcers observed. However, MTX dermal toxicity was still observed in 1 case who had an undetectable level of serum MTX. Therefore, serum MTX concentration may not be a reliable predictor for the MTX toxicity.
TCM-related skin ulceration is rarely encountered in psoriasis patients. Genetic background of patients may be an important determinant of TCM-related adverse reactions. Compelling evidence indicates that the transporter ABCB1polymorphisms affect the transport of MTX in different pathological contexts (24–26). The P-glycoprotein (P-gp) encoded by the ABCB1 gene is an important transmembrane transporter located on the cell membrane, which can influence the transmembrane transport, tissue distribution, and clearance rate of various drugs, including methotrexate (MTX) (24). In patients with psoriasis, ABCB1 gene polymorphisms have a significant impact on the therapeutic efficacy of MTX. Patients with certain genotypes (such as AA and AG) tend to have lower expression levels of P-gp, leading to increased accumulation of MTX in tissues, which in turn exacerbates drug toxicity, including severe adverse effects such as skin ulceration. In contrast, patients with the GG genotype generally exhibit higher P-gp expression, resulting in enhanced drug efflux, lower MTX levels in the body, and consequently a reduced risk of adverse reactions (27). Our results suggest that the deleterious effects incurred by MTX-containing TCM are also affected by the ABCB1 gene polymorphisms. Among the two patients tested for ABCB1 polymorphisms, one was the AA genotype, and the other AG genotype. The ABCB1 AA or AG genotype seems to be more susceptible than the GG genotype to MTX toxicity. Therefore, when using MTX-containing traditional Chinese medicine in patients with psoriasis, the polymorphisms of the ABCB1 gene may need to be taken into consideration. Detection of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms holds promise for guiding individualized MTX therapy in clinical practice. This is especially important for patients using MTX-containing traditional Chinese medicine, as dosage and monitoring strategies can be tailored according to the patient's genotype, thereby reducing the risk of adverse reactions and improving treatment safety.
TCM is composed of a large number of bioactive compounds. Although our data indicate the increased risk of dermal toxicity by MTX, we cannot exclude the possibility that other chemical agents from TCM may also contribute to skin ulceration observed in psoriasis patients. Nevertheless, discontinuation of TCM or supplementation of folic acid is useful in resolving the TCM-related skin ulcers. The limitations of this study include a small sample size and the lack of comprehensive genetic data. In the future, it will be necessary to expand the sample size and incorporate a broader range of genetic backgrounds and multicenter data to further investigate the predictive and interventional significance of ABCB1 gene polymorphisms in MTX-induced cutaneous toxicity.
Conclusion
In summary, our work demonstrates that MTX-containing TCM play a role in skin ulceration in rare cases of psoriasis patients. Understanding the mechanism for TCM-induced dermal toxicity is important to improve the safety of TCM-based therapy against psoriasis.
Statements
Data availability statement
The raw data supporting the conclusions of this article will be made available by the authors, without undue reservation, to any qualified researcher.
Ethics statement
The research/study was approved by the Institutional Review Board at Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, numberIRB2024-YX-006-01, dated 2023-01. The studies were conducted in accordance with the local legislation and institutional requirements. The participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. Written informed consent was obtained from the individual(s) for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article.
Author contributions
YZ: Software, Conceptualization, Resources, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Funding acquisition, Investigation, Writing – review & editing, Formal analysis, Validation, Methodology, Project administration, Data curation, Supervision. YD: Validation, Data curation, Supervision, Project administration, Conceptualization, Investigation, Resources, Funding acquisition, Writing – original draft, Visualization, Formal analysis. RW: Supervision, Investigation, Data curation, Conceptualization, Methodology, Software, Funding acquisition, Resources, Validation, Writing – original draft, Project administration. SL: Formal analysis, Funding acquisition, Visualization, Resources, Project administration, Supervision, Methodology, Writing – review & editing, Validation, Conceptualization, Data curation, Investigation.
Funding
The author(s) declare that financial support was received for the research and/or publication of this article. This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81773319) and Basic Research Projects in Ulanqab City (2021JC302).
Acknowledgments
The authors are grateful to all the participants who cooperated in the skin lesion photography for this study. The authors would also like to thank the relevant dermatology teams for their support and collaboration.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Generative AI statement
The author(s) declare that no Generative AI was used in the creation of this manuscript.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Summary
Keywords
psoriasis, methotrexate toxicity, skin ulceration, traditional Chinese, immunosuppressive
Citation
Zheng Y, Dubai Y, Wang R and Luo S (2025) Painful skin ulcers in psoriasis patients after taking methotrexate-containing traditional Chinese medicine: a retrospective case series. Front. Allergy 6:1634055. doi: 10.3389/falgy.2025.1634055
Received
23 May 2025
Accepted
09 June 2025
Published
23 June 2025
Volume
6 - 2025
Edited by
Lili Zhi, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, China
Reviewed by
Qiri Mu, Inner Mongolia International Hospital, China
Yan Zheng, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, China
Updates
Copyright
© 2025 Zheng, Dubai, Wang and Luo.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Suju Luo luosuju@tmu.edu.cn
†These authors have contributed equally to this work
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.