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.
Objectives:
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.
Conclusion:
Oral tacrolimus is an effective and safe option for the short-term treatment of severe plaque psoriasis.
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