SERUM CHEMOKINES IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC-ARTHRITIS TREATED WITH CYCLOSPORINE-A

Objective, To evaluate the levels of serum chemokines in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) before and during cyclosporin A (CyA) treat ment. Methods. Sixteen outpatients with active PsA were followed for 6 months during low dosage CyA treatment. Serum chemokines of the C-X-C and C-C groups were determined by ELISA at the baseline. Serum RANTES levels were measured at 2 month intervals for 6 months. Serum chemoki ne levels were related with clinical and laboratory disease activity v ariables. Results, Serum interleukin 8 and macrophage inflammatory pro tein Ice levels were undetectable at baseline. Mean serum growth relat ed gene product-alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 values we re reduced and serum RANTES were elevated compared to controls. CyA tr eatment did not change serum RANTES levels, Patients with PsA with per sistently normal serum RANTES levels (4 patients) had a more favorable clinical and laboratory response to CyA compared to patients with per sistently high serum levels (6 patients). Conclusion. Serum RANTES lev els are higher in patients with PsA than in a control population, CyA treatment does not change RANTES values. Patients with PsA with persis tently normal RANTES levels have a better response to CyA treatment.