Pilot Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Oral Tacrolimus in Adult Patients With Refractory Severe Plaque Psoriasis.

Abstract

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. To study the efficacy and safety of oral tacrolimus in adult patients with severe refractory plaque psoriasis. 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. 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. Oral tacrolimus is an effective and safe option for the short-term treatment of severe plaque psoriasis.