title: Complete clinical remission of psoriasis 6 months after renal transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Psoriasis, one of the most common immune-mediated inflammatory diseases of the skin is mediated by activated effector T cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 56-year-old white man with a 22-year history of severe psoriasis vulgaris with plaque and joint involvement, who experienced a complete clinical remission after renal transplantation. The patient had been on hemodialysis for 6 years because of chronic renal failure caused by an undetermined chronic nephropathy. Psoriasis, which worsened over the years, was symmetrically distributed as erythematous scaly plaques that had increased until they covered about 50% of the body surface, involving mainly the abdomen, legs, back, and arms. The patient also complained of severe itching an responsive to drugs. He had been treated with topical and systemic corticosteroids and phototherapy several times without benefit. After renal transplantation he underwent immunosuppressive therapy with corticosteroids, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and tacrolimus (Advagraf, beginning starting dose 1 mg/kg/day, C0 10 ng/mL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the early days post-surgery the patient reported a fast improvement in the itching with progressive reduction of the skin lesions. After 4 months follow-up the psoriasis had completely regressed, presumably due to the immunosuppressive regimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This finding suggests that systemic immunosuppressive drugs may be useful for psoriasis an responsive to conventional therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Science, Renal Transplantation Unit, Catholic University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Salerno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Simone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castriota
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Citterio
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents