title: Cyclosporin A levels in suction-blister fluid of patients with psoriasis treated systemically.
abstract: Oral cyclosporin A (CyA) is highly effective in the treatment of psoriasis. The long-term use is limited by dose-dependent side-effects, and the local concentration of CyA is a determining factor in treatment. The concentration of CyA in suction-blister fluid (SBF) and in whole blood was assessed using a polyclonal radioimmunoassay (RIA). This was carried out in patients with psoriasis following a single dose of CyA and while on adequate oral treatment with the drug. Peak blister fluid levels ranged from 32 to 170 ng/ml, and whole blood levels from 1250 to 2540 ng/ml. CyA trough levels (12 h following taking the drug) in the blister fluid ranged from 22 to 113 ng/ml, and in whole blood from 148 to 935 ng/ml. The trough concentrations in SBF were approximately 10% of whole blood trough levels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Meinardi
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Van Eendenburg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oosting
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Van Boxtel
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: De Rie
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Bos
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001768:Blister / Q000378:metabolism; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins