BACKGROUND: Chronic idiopathic urticaria is sometimes difficult to treat, with little response to antihistamine therapy. OBJECTIVE: In a limited number of severe chronic idiopathic urticaria patients, cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy was found to be effective. In this study, we compared the clinical efficacy and safety of short- and long-term CsA applications. METHODS: Twenty patients with severe disease, unresponsive to antihistamines and showing a positive autologous serum skin test (ASST) were randomized to 4 mg/kg per day of CsA for 4 or 12 weeks. The clinical efficacy was measured with a daily activity score of weal numbers and itch (UAS). The two groups were compared in terms of mean reduction in UAS and ASST response to pre-and post-treatment sera. RESULTS: The clinical improvement was dramatic in the first month of treatment in both groups. There was no significant difference in the frequency of responses, side effects and the reduction of UAS in either group. CONCLUSION: The preliminary results of our study suggest that CsA is clinically effective for chronic urticaria. The prolonged use of this therapy for more than 1 month provides little benefit in the clinical improvement.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Effects of long-term cyclosporine A therapy on renal functions in Behçet's disease.

Cyclosporin A (CsA), one of the most extensively investigated immunomodulatory agents, is widely used today in the treatment of various immunologically triggered dermatologic disorders. The immunologic basis for the therapeutic action of CsA depends on the suppression of lymphokine production by T cells. Due to its immunologic effects, this drug is also commonly preferred in Behcet's disease, especially with neurologic and ocular involvement. Since the course of this chronic disease presents remissions and exacerbations, drug therapy should be long term. Studies on the safety of long-term use of CsA in dermatologic diseases are limited. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the long-term use of CsA in Beh,et's disease without renal involvement. A total of 19 patients with ocular Beh,et's disease receiving CsA therapy for at least 1 year were included in this retrospective study. Changes in the parameters of renal function (creatinine clearance, creatinine level in serum), other adverse effects and their relation with cumulative CsA dosage were evaluated. The duration of CsA therapy and total dosage were not found to have a significant effect on the parameters of renal function, but, depending on clinical observations, the adverse effects seem to increase in the long term. We conclude that our results on renal function should be supported by renal biopsies.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Echocardiographic findings in subjects with psoriatic arthropathy.

BACKGROUND: Psoriatic arthropathy (PA) is a seronegative arthropathy with a 5-20% prevalence among psoriatics. In recent years, cardiovascular abnormalities have been shown in patients with seronegative arthropathies. OBJECTIVE/AIM: Since echocardiography is a non-invasive method to evidence cardiac abnormalities, we planned a study to evaluate heart involvement in subjects with psoriatic athropathy using this method. METHODS: A total of 21 subjects (15 women, six men) aged from 34 to 71 years were involved in this study. After PA diagnosis was confirmed by skeletal scintigraphic survey, patients were evaluated by Doppler echocardiogram for cardiovascular disturbances and the results were compared with those for a sex- and age-matched control group. RESULTS: The left ventricle end-diastolic and end-systolic diameters of the PA group were statistically different from those of the control group (P < 0.05), but no difference was observed in ejection fraction and the mitral E/A ratios. The presence of diastolic dysfunction was significantly related to the presence of arthropathy and the duration of psoriasis (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: We conclude that mild diastolic dysfunction may accompany PA but our data should be confirmed by further studies.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

A case of syringocystadenoma papilliferum: an unusal localization on postoperative scar.

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Adenoma, Sweat Gland↗