title: Systemic cyclosporine treatment in severe childhood psoriasis: A retrospective chart review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data regarding the use of cyclosporine (CYC) in the treatment of childhood psoriasis is meager.
  
  
  METHODS
  The records of all psoriasis patients aged less than 18 years and treated with systemic CYC at our institute were retrieved. Clinical status of patients was assessed at regular intervals and response to therapy was graded as good (50-75% decrease in PASI) and excellent (>75% decrease). Laboratory investigations to detect CYC-induced toxicity were done at regular intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were total 10 children having psoriasis treated with systemic CYC over this period. Indication for the institution of CYC therapy was severe diseases, viz. extensive recalcitrant plaque type psoriasis in four patients, erythroderma in three and generalized pustular psoriasis in one patient. Response to therapy was excellent (>75% decrease in PASI) in all but three patients with psoriatic erythroderma. The mean time to control the disease, i.e. 50% reduction in PASI was 4.2 weeks. Side effects were mild, observed in two children, which included pain abdomen and an increase in serum creatinine over baseline value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CYC is an effective and reasonably safe drug to be used as crisis management therapy in severe childhood psoriasis under an expert supervision and laboratory monitoring.
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
authors: Sunil
authors: S
authors: Dogra
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
authors: Rahul
authors: R
authors: Mahajan
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
authors: Tarun
authors: T
authors: Narang
authors: a Department of Dermatology , Venereology, and Leprology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research , Chandigarh , India.
authors: Sanjeev
authors: S
authors: Handa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003873:Dermatitis, Exfoliative / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine
keywords: Cyclosporine; pediatric; psoriasis