title: Elevation of fasting serum lipids in patients treated with low-dose cyclosporine for severe plaque-type psoriasis. An assessment of clinical significance when viewed as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hyperlipidemia has received little attention as a side effect of cyclosporine therapy for severe psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We report changes in fasting serum lipids in patients treated with low-dose oral cyclosporine for psoriasis and discuss their significance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two patients with severe, recalcitrant, plaque-type psoriasis were treated with cyclosporine, 5 mg/kg/day, for 12 to 16 weeks. Fasting serum lipid levels (triglycerides, cholesterol, and high-density lipoproteins) were measured at 2-week intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean serum triglyceride level increased from 117.8 +/- 11.7 mg/dl before initiation of therapy to 183.9 +/- 31.4 mg/dl after 2 weeks of treatment, without further significant change during the remainder of the study (p less than 0.007). A significant elevation of serum cholesterol from 207.1 +/- 8.1 mg/dl initially to 247.4 +/- 10.2 mg/dl after 2 weeks of treatment occurred (p less than 0.001) and persisted with continued cyclosporine therapy. No consistent alteration in high-density lipoprotein was noted (p less than 0.42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum lipids should be closely monitored in psoriasis patients receiving intermediate or long-term therapy with cyclosporine, especially in the presence of elevated baseline values.
authors.affiliation: Ronald O. Perelman Department of Dermatology, New York University Medical Center, NY 10016.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Stiller
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Pak
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jondreau
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wachsman
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Shupack
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine