Background: Data regarding the use of cyclosporine (CYC) in the treatment of childhood psoriasis is meager.
Materials and 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.
Keywords: Cyclosporine; pediatric; psoriasis.