Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42005271›Full record

ReviewCureus2026

Efficacy and Safety of Adalimumab as Monotherapy Versus Adalimumab With Methotrexate for Psoriasis: A Systematic Review.

Ahmed F Alanazi, Muhammad A Almahdi, Shaden O Alqurashi, Saud Alassaf, Abdulaziz Almohanna, Salman T Alayed, Mohammed Alshehri, Kadi S Alsubaie, Salha Hakami

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Cureus, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Ahmed F AlanaziCollege of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Muhammad A AlmahdiFaculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, SAU.
Shaden O AlqurashiCollege of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, SAU.
Saud AlassafCollege of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Abdulaziz AlmohannaCollege of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Salman T AlayedCollege of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Mohammed AlshehriCollege of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Kadi S AlsubaieCollege of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, SAU.
Salha HakamiDepartment of Dermatology, King Salman Hospital, Riyadh, SAU.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Adalimumab is a common biologic used for the management of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis. Despite the known importance of adding methotrexate to adalimumab in reducing immunogenicity and improving clinical response, the extent of its benefit remains unclear. This review aimed to systematically compare adalimumab with and without methotrexate, considering their efficacy and safety in the management of psoriasis. This systematic review included randomized controlled trials, long-term follow-up studies, and observational cohorts that investigated adalimumab monotherapy with adalimumab plus methotrexate in adult patients diagnosed with plaque psoriasis. Data on clinical efficacy using Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), drug survival, and safety outcomes were extracted and summarized. A total of 128 records were initially identified through database searching. After removal of duplicates and screening of titles and abstracts, 45 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility, of which five studies met the predefined inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The studies showed that the addition of methotrexate reduced the antidrug antibody formation and improved the serum level of adalimumab. Additionally, higher early PASI75 achievement was observed at early follow-up periods (approximately 5-16 weeks, depending on study design), with only modest numerical improvements in select studies. Considering safety profiles, the results were comparable between groups, with rare serious adverse events reported. However, the rate of discontinuation because of adverse events was higher with combination therapy. Addition of methotrexate to adalimumab therapy for the management of psoriasis may reduce immunogenicity and optimize the drug pharmacokinetics; however, it does not show a significant advantage considering clinical efficacy or long-term treatment persistence. Therefore, according to the study findings, the combination therapy should be selectively used in patients with suboptimal response or in those with suspected immunogenicity, while retaining the standard use of adalimumab monotherapy for the rest of the patients.

Indexed as

adalimumabcombination therapyefficacyhumiramethotrexatepsoriasis

Identifiers

PMID42005271
PMCPMC13086599

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.