title: The FDA guidelines for the treatment of psoriasis using cyclosporine A: are they adequate?
abstract: I present a review of the current US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for using cyclosporine A (CSA) to treat psoriasis, with particular emphasis on the period for which CSA may be administered. My concern is that, without violating the guidelines, CSA could be given for a prolonged period with only very brief time-outs. I also review the risks for renal toxicity, malignancy, and other side effects from prolonged administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Francisco, USA. hszackheim@orca.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Herschel S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Zackheim
mesh_terms: D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014486:United States Food and Drug Administration / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine