Cyclosporine as Monotherapy for Psoriasis in the Setting of Chronic HCV Infection: A Forgotten Therapeutical Option

Authors

Alexandra Maria Giovanna Brunasso1,*, Paolo Michetti2, Laura Fancelli3, Cesare Massone4
11) Department of Dermatology, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy. 2) Department of Environmental Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Graz, [email protected], Austria
2Department of Gastroenterology, Galliera Hospital, Italy
3Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Florence, Italy
4Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Graz, Austria
*Corresponding Author: 1) Department of Dermatology, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy. 2) Department of Environmental Dermatology and Venereology, Medical University of Graz, [email protected], Austria. Tel: +43-31638512423. Fax: +43-31638514957 (12466). Email: [email protected]

Hepatitis Monthly:Vol. 12, issue 5; 349-352
Published online:May 31, 2012
Article type:Case Report
Received:Apr 20, 2011
Accepted:May 12, 2012
How to Cite:Giovanna Brunasso A, Michetti P, Fancelli L, Massone C. Cyclosporine as Monotherapy for Psoriasis in the Setting of Chronic HCV Infection: A Forgotten Therapeutical Option. Hepat Mon. 2012;12(5):. doi: https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.6057

Abstract

Background: Treatment of psoriasis in the setting of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is diffcult, because standard therapies like methotrexate are associated with increased hepatic toxicity. Due to the HCV suppressive effect. Cyclosporine may represent a valid systemic alternative for psoriatic-HCV patients.
Objectives: In this study, we report the successful usage of intermittent cycles of cyclosporine in the setting of chronic HCV infection and we try to call the attention once again in a very effective and forgotten therapeutic option for severe chronic plaque psoriasis.
Observation: We describe a 48 years - old patient who has a 20 year history of severe chronic plaque psoriasis and HCV infection (aminotransferase levels are three times normal; HCV genotype 2a-2c and HCV-RNA titer of 2.050.000 UI-ml). Five courses (range of duration of three to six months) of oral cyclosporine (5 mg/kg/day) were followed during a 38 month period. The viral load and the transaminases’ levels diminished during the 38 months of intermittent cyclosporine therapy to the lowest level measured at 36th month. The good psoriatic response was associated to a slight improvement of the liver condition, even though the HCV-RNA was reduced by less than 1 log10 without normalization of aminotransferase’ levels.
Conclusions: The reduced liver toxicity, the potential anti-HCV properties and the well-known systemic anti-in?ammatory effect, make cyclosporine a good alternative for recalcitrant psoriatic patients with HCV-liver disease.


Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education:
Cyclosporine can be considered a valid option for treatment of severe psoriasis in the setting of chronic HCV infection.
Please cite this paper as:
Giovanna Brunasso AM, Michetti P, Fancelli L, Massone C. Cyclosporine as Monotherapy for Psoriasis in the Setting of Chronic HCV Infection: A Forgotten Therapeutical Option. Hepat Mon. 2012;12(5): 349-52. DOI: 10.5812/hepatmon.6057

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© 2012, Author(s). This open-access article is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) International License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which allows for unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is properly cited.

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