Serum concentrations of interleukin-2 and tumour necrosis factor-α under cyclosporine versus acitretin treatment in plaque-type psoriasis

OBJECTIVE: A prospective, randomized clinical study to compare the short-term effects of cyclosporin and acitretin on psoriasis severity, and serum interleukin (IL)-2 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations. METHODS: Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive either 3 mg/kg per day cyclosporine or 0.3-0.5 mg/kg per day acitretin for 8 weeks. Disease severity (psoriasis area severity index [PASI] score) and serum IL-2 and TNF-α concentrations were determined before and after treatment. RESULTS: PASI scores and serum IL-2 and TNF-α concentrations were significantly decreased after treatment with either cyclosporine (n = 21) or acitretin (n = 25). There were no statistically significant between-group differences in any parameter. CONCLUSIONS: Acitretin and cyclosporine are equally effective in the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque-type psoriasis.