Int J Clin Pharm Th
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Int J Clin Pharm Th · Mar 1996
Clinical TrialEvaluation of the therapeutic range of whole blood cyclosporin concentration in the treatment of psoriasis.
Cyclosporin (CyA) trough levels in whole blood in 17 patients receiving CyA for the treatment of severe psoriasis were measured by fluorescence polarization immunoassay (FPIA) employing a specific monoclonal antibody. Clinical success was defined as a PASI score reduction greater than or equal to 75% (group A), partial success by a PASI score reduction of 60%-74% (group B), and insufficient efficacy by a PASI score reduction of less than 60% (group C). Nine of the 17 patients given CyA (53%) exhibited an improvement rate of > or = 75% in the PASI score within 8 weeks of the initiation of treatment. ⋯ In these 2 patients the relapse may have been due, in part, to the sharp decrease in whole blood concentration secondary to partial noncompliance. Measurement of whole blood CyA trough level is the only method for assessing the patient's noncompliance. Contrary to previous reports we confirmed that the measurement of CyA concentration in whole blood was useful for monitoring the effects in patients with psoriasis.