6-Thioguanine treatment of psoriasis: experience in 81 patients.
BACKGROUND
Despite recent innovations a considerable number of patients with psoriasis cannot be successfully treated by current therapies.


OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to summarize our 18-year experience with the antimetabolite 6-thioguanine in the management of patients with psoriasis.


METHODS
We retrospectively studied 81 patients who were treated with 6-thioguanine. A variety of schedules were used to find the optimal schedule. Forty-eight percent of the patients either had been treated with methotrexate or were excluded from receiving methotrexate because of liver or kidney disease.


RESULTS
Forty-nine percent of patients with plaques were effectively maintained with 6-thioguanine for a median of 33 months. Four of five patients with palmoplantar pustular psoriasis experienced substantial benefit. The most common side effect was myelosuppression.


CONCLUSIONS
6-Thioguanine is an effective therapy for psoriasis and should be considered for patients who have failed to respond to other systemic agents.
Zackheim
H S
HS
Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco.
Glogau
R G
RG
Fisher
D A
DA
Maibach
H I
HI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000187:drug effects; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013866:Thioguanine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D013866:Thioguanine