Cyclosporine in severe psoriasis. Results of a meta-analysis in 579 patients

A meta-analysis of 3 major German studies conducted between 1989 and 1994 with cyclosporine in severe psoriasis was performed to allow an integrated evaluation of the efficacy and tolerability of cyclosporine in this indication.

All 3 studies were prospective, randomized, parallel group studies. The studies were conducted in 61 dermatologic centers in Germany.

The studies involved 597 patients with severe plaque type psoriasis. Treatment consisted of cyclosporine (at a dosage of 1.25, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg/day), etretinate (at a mean daily dose of 0.53 mg/kg/day) or placebo in a total of 756 treatment cycles with a maximum duration of 12 weeks.

The main outcome measures were the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) and serum creatinine level.

The meta-analysis revealed that cyclosporine given in a dosage of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg/day was significantly superior to etretinate. In addition cyclosporine 1.25 mg/kg/day proved to be significantly more effective than placebo. An increase in serum creatinine level that required intervention occurred in 3.4% of cyclosporine treatment cycles.

Cyclosporine is highly effective and well tolerated in the short term treatment of severe psoriasis.