Serum TNF-alpha in psoriasis after treatment with propylthiouracil, an antithyroid thioureylene.
BACKGROUND
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and its receptors play important roles in the development and persistence of psoriatic plaques. The antithyroid thioureylenes, propylthiouracil and methimazole, are effective in the treatment of patients with psoriasis with a significant number of patients showing clearing or near clearing of their lesions after a several weeks of treatment.


METHODS
The present study examined the effect of treatment with propylthiouracil, given in a dose of 100 mg every 8 hours for 3 months, on the serum levels of TNF-alpha in 9 patients with plaque psoriasis.


RESULTS
Propylthiouracil therapy did not result in a significant decline in serum TNF-alpha concentrations.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that the therapeutic effect of propylthiouracil in psoriasis appears not to be related to any change in the concentration of TNF-alpha but occurs via an anti-proliferative mechanism as we have previously speculated.
Elias
Alan N
AN
Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of California, Irvine Medical Center, 101 The City Drive, Orange, California 92868, USA. anelias@uci.edu
Nanda
Vanda S
VS
Pandian
Raj
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013956:Antithyroid Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011441:Propylthiouracil / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D000963:Antimetabolites; D013956:Antithyroid Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011441:Propylthiouracil