Therapeutic efficacy of oral low-dose cyclosporin A in severe psoriatic arthritis.

Abstract

Six male patients with severe psoriatic arthritis (PA) unresponsive to various topical and systemic therapies have been treated with oral cyclosporin A (CyA; Sandimmun) solution at daily doses ranging usually from 1.5 to 5.0 mg/kg. In 1 case the dose had to be increased to 7 mg/kg/day. At initiation of CyA therapy skin involvement was between 40 and 90% of total body surface. Initiation of CyA therapy resulted in marked improvement of skin lesions within 2-7 weeks accompanied by impressive relief from arthralgias and improvement of joint function. The requirement for nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was markedly reduced in all cases. All patients in whom CyA therapy was continued remained clinically stable for several months (follow-up period 2-7 months). Although mild to moderate relapses occurred, rebound phenomena were not observed after discontinuation of treatment. Side effects which comprised serum creatinine increases in 3 out of 6 cases were reversed by adjustment of CyA dosage.

• Authors: S A Wagner, R U Peter, O Adam, T Ruzicka
• Journal: Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland) (Dermatology) Vol. 186 Issue 1 Pg. 62-7 ( 1993) ISSN: 1018-8665 [Print] Switzerland
• PMID: 8435521 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Cyclosporine

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Adult
• Aged
• Arthritis, Psoriatic (drug therapy)
• Cyclosporine (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Severity of Illness Index
• Treatment Outcome