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Anti‐inflammatory efficacy of low‐dose cyclosporin A in psoriatic arthritis. A prospective multicentre study
Author(s) -
MAHRLE G.,
SCHULZE H.J.,
BRÄUTIGAM M.,
MISCHER P.,
SCHOPF R.,
JUNG E.G.,
WEIDINGER G.,
FÄRBER L.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
british journal of dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.304
H-Index - 179
eISSN - 1365-2133
pISSN - 0007-0963
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-2133.1996.d01-1074.x
Subject(s) - medicine , psoriatic arthritis , psoriasis , dermatology , prospective cohort study , arthritis
Summary Fifty‐five patients with psoriatic arthritis were treated with a low dose of cyclosporin A (CyA) (mean dose 2.7 mg/kg per day) for a period of 6 months to investigate the efficacy of CyA on disease parameters. Significant improvement in the joint complaints and inflammation parameters was observed including a decrease in the number of painful (‐46%) and swollen (‐45%) joints, tenderness (Ritchie Index: ‐50%) and degree of swelling (‐46%), patient's assessment of pain (‐35%), the duration of morning joint stiffness (‐37%), as well as a decrease in C‐reactive protein (‐52%). A 50% reduction of joint complaints required a total of 24 weeks, whereas a 50% reduction of skin involvement was achieved after 5–6 weeks of treatment. Four patients left the study due to adverse events: creatinine level increase in two patients, hypertension in one patient and gastroenteritis in the fourth patient. Joint scintigraphy in 18 patients indicated an improvement or stable condition in 61% of cases after a mean follow‐up of approximately 8 months. The results of this prospective study show that low‐dose CyA effectively improves not only skin lesions, but also joint complaints in psoriatic arthritis.