ORAL AND INTRAVENOUS DISPOSITION OF CYCLOSPORINE IN PSORIATIC PATIENTS

After informed consent was obtained and with the approval of the Local Ethical Committee, cyclosporine A (CsA) kinetics was studied in 63 ps oriatic patients by giving them 2.5 mg/kg CsA orally. In order to calc ulate oral bioavailability, F, 22 patients were given the same dose i. v. Values of the calculated kinetic parameters were oral F = 22-63%; h alf-life, t(1/2 beta) = 11.05-13.70 h; volume of distribution, V-d, = 4.00-5.02/L/kg; total body clearance, Cl, = 4.25-4.14 ml/min/kg. The a rea under the blood concentration time curve was more closely related to the dose (r = 0.66) than were trough levels (r = 0.52). No signific ant relationship was observed between the kinetic parameters studied a nd the age of the patient.