title: Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tacrolimus in Adult Patients With Refractory Severe Plaque Psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tacrolimus, a congener of cyclosporine, has replaced cyclosporine as a first-line treatment for most transplant patients due to its superior efficacy and safety. Tacrolimus has not been extensively studied for the treatment of psoriasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the efficacy and safety of oral tacrolimus in adult patients with severe refractory plaque psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an open-label pilot study. Patients with severe plaque type psoriasis who were unresponsive to at least 1 systemic treatment were treated with oral tacrolimus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients were treated. After 12 weeks, improvement in mean Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score was 80.37% (P < .001), PASI 75 was observed in 19 of 26 (73.1%) patients, and PASI 90 was observed in 11 of 26 (42.3%) patients. No severe side effects were noted.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oral tacrolimus is an effective and safe option for the short-term treatment of severe plaque psoriasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Ankit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India sundogra@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogra
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Tarun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Narang
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh 160012, India.
authors.forename: Aman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019233:Retreatment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: oral tacrolimus; severe plaque psoriasis