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Updated: Aug 15, 2026
The Goeckerman Regimen for the Treatment of Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
Published on: July 11, 2013
Dynamics of psoriatic trachyonychia during low-dose cyclosporin A treatment: a pilot study on onychochronobiology
G E Piérard1, C Piérard-Franchimont
1Department of Dermatopathology, University of Liège, Belgium.
Background:
The effect of low-dose cyclosporin A (CsA) on psoriatic onychopathy has not yet been thoroughly studied.
Purpose:
To measure the changes in nail surface contours during a 3-mg/kg/day CsA therapy.
Method:
In vivo optical profilometry was performed at regular intervals in 5 psoriatic patients to derive mean roughness (Ra) and mean depth of roughness (Rz) values of nails. Segmental Rz served to evaluate long-term onychochronobiology.
Results:
Untreated psoriatic trachyonychia was best described by Rz which showed large interindividual differences. A progressive improvement in segmental Rz took place after 2-3 months of maintenance therapy.
Conclusion:
CsA improves psoriatic onychopathy after an apparent lag phase. The maximum improvement may only be reached during the CsA tapering phase.
