The treatment of psoriasis with azaribine.
An open study was made of 25 patients with severe, recalcitrant psoriasis treated with azaribine (6-azauridine triacetate). Most patients received 125 mg/kg/day for a period of 8 weeks. A good to excellent response with 60-100% clearing of lesions was observed in 14 patients and a fair response with 40-60% improvement in another 6 patients. Thus 20 patients (80% of the series) exhibited a favorable clinical response. 16 of these 20 patients relapsed to approximately pretreatment status within 1 month after stopping therapy. The most frequently observed side-effects were mild reversible anemia, fatigue and mild transient gastrointestinal symptons. 8 patients (32% of the series) exhibited sufficient toxicity to necessitate the discontinuance of therapy. 1 patient experienced an unexplained femoral arterial thrombotic episode while on the drug. Azaribine may find a place in the therapy of severe psoriasis particularly in patients with hepatic disease. However, further studies of its potential for toxicity are indicated.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001380:Azauridine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*
D001380:Azauridine