Clinical blood test indicators as biomarkers of inflammation and psoriasis severity during methotrexate and genetically engineered biological agent therapy

Vikhreva M.N., Martynov A.A., Sychev D.A., Levashova O.A., Orlova E.A.

1) Penza Institute for Advanced Medical Training, Branch of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Department of Allergology and Immunology with a Course in Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Penza, Russia; 2) Penza Institute for Advanced Medical Training, Branch of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Department of Medical Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Penza, Russia; 3) World-Class Genomic Research Center “Center for Predictive Genetics, Pharmacogenetics, and Personalized Therapy”, Russian Scientific Center of Surgery named after Academician B.V. Petrovsky, Moscow, Russia; 4) Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Moscow, Russia; 5) Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapy named after Academician B.E. Votchal, Moscow, Russia

Background: Search for sensitive, accessible, and objective biomarkers to assess systemic inflammatory activity in patients with psoriasis.
Objective: Comparative analysis of the Hematological parameters of clinical blood tests in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis depending on therapy (methotrexate or genetically engineered biological agents (GEBA)).
Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of hematological parameters in 80 patients with moderate to severe psoriasis was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups depending on therapy. The first group included patients receiving methotrexate, and the second group included patients receiving genetically engineered biological agents (GEBA).
Results: In patients with moderate to severe psoriasis receiving different therapies (methotrexate or GEBA), the analysis revealed statistically significant differences in a number of hematological parameters: red blood cell (RBC), platelet (platelet), neutrophil, and basophil levels. Calculation of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio revealed elevated values for these indices in patients receiving methotrexate.
Conclusion: Monitoring hematological parameters and calculated indices of clinical blood tests (neutrophils/lymphocytes, platelets/lymphocytes) may provide accessible data for assessing the systemic inflammatory response in patients with psoriasis treated with methotrexate or GEBA.

For citations: Vikhreva M.N., Martynov A.A., Sychev D.A., Levashova O.A., Orlova E.A. Clinical blood test indicators as biomarkers of inflammation and psoriasis severity during methotrexate and genetically engineered biological agent therapy. Pharmateca. 2025;32(10):66-72. (In Russ.). DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/pharmateca.2025.10.66-72

Authors’ contribution: M.N. Vikhreva, O.A. Levashova, and E.A. Orlova – substantiation of the research concept, search, analysis, and generalization of literary data, and writing the manuscript. D.A. Sychev and A.A. Martynov – preparation and editing of the text.
Conflicts of interest: The authors confirm that they have no conflicts of interest to declare.
Funding: The study was conducted without any sponsorship.
Ethical Approval: The study was approved, protocol No. 31 dated October 28, 2025.
Patient Consent for Publication: The retrospective design of the study did not require informed consent from patients for statistical processing of anonymized data for subsequent publication.
Authors’ Data Sharing Statement: The data supporting the findings of this study are available upon request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.

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About the Authors

M.N. Vikhreva, Assistant Professor, Department of Allergology and Immunology with a Course in Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology,
Penza Institute for Advanced Medical Training, Branch of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Penza, Russia; vichreva.87@mail.ru, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0002-7977-5441 (corresponding author)
A.A. Martynov, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Department of Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Moscow, Russia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5756-2747
D.A. Sychev, Dr. Sci. (Med.), Professor, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Head of the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapy named after Academician B.E. Votchal, Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education; Scientific Director of the Center for World-Class Genomic Research «Center for Predictive Genetics, Pharmacogenetics and Personalized Therapy», Russian Scientific Center of Surgery named after Academician B.V. Petrovsky, Moscow, Russia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4496-3680
O.A. Levashova, Penza Institute for Advanced Medical Training, Branch of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Department of Medical Microbiology and Laboratory Medicine, Penza, Russia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8440-6598
E.A. Orlova, Penza Institute for Advanced Medical Training, Branch of the Russian Medical Academy of Continuous Professional Education, Department of Allergology and Immunology with a Course in Dermatovenereology and Cosmetology, Penza, Russia; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3902-2018

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