title: Differential effects of cyclosporine and etretinate on serum cytokine levels in patients with psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The in vivo effects of cyclosporine and etretinate on the immune system are still unclear.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Our purpose was to determine the effects of these drugs on in vivo production of various cytokines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum cytokine levels were measured sequentially by radioimmunoassay in psoriasis patients treated with either cyclosporine or etretinate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interferon-gamma levels were initially elevated and rapidly returned to baseline levels before clinical improvement in both treatment groups. A transient increase before the relapse was also observed in some patients. Etretinate treatment resulted in a substantial decrease in tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels, whereas an unpredictable increase was found during the late phase of cyclosporine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The in vivo effects of antipsoriatic drugs on cytokine production are different from those demonstrated in vitro. Measurement of serum cytokine levels is useful for monitoring patients with psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kyorin University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shiohara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Imanishi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sagawa
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nagashima
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005050:Etretinate / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D005050:Etretinate; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D016572:Cyclosporine