CYCLOSPORINE NEPHROTOXICITY IN RELATION TO ITS METABOLISM IN PSORIASIS

Cyclosporine (CsA) and some of its metabolites (M9, M17, M18, M21) hav e been determined by means of an LC-MASS method in eight psoriatic pat ients developing nephrotoxicity. In comparison with a control group (1 5 psoriatics who after the same period of time, with the same daily do se, did not develop nephrotoxicity) they showed an increase of CsA met abolites, especially M17. Because M17 blood concentrations in the neph rotoxic group tended to be higher than in the control group from the f irst week of treatment we suggest that M17 might be considered a marke r of ongoing nephrotoxicty. (C) 1996 The Italian Pharmacological Socie ty