PLASMA ENDOTHELIN IN PSORIASIS - POSSIBLE RELATIONS TO THERAPY AND TOXICITY

Plasma endothelin levels were studied in 71 patients suffering from se vere psoriasis. The psoriatics were treated either with topical therap y alone (n=18) or with cyclosporin A (n=26), methotrexate (n=21), or w ith hydroxyurea, acitretin or ranitidin (n=6) with or without topical therapy. The psoriatics had a significantly higher average plasma endo thelin than 40 healthy controls. The patients treated with cyclosporin A had the highest values and these mere in contrast to patients on me thotrexate and other systemic therapy higher than patients treated wit h topical therapy alone, There was not significant difference between endothelin levels in patients treated with methotrexate compared to th ose in patients only receiving topical treatment. Whether the increase d endothelin levels in plasma are derived from keratinocytes or enlarg ed vessels needs to be investigated, An increased plasma endothelin le vel could be related to therapy and for patients on cyclosporin A be o f importance for toxicity.