PLASMA AND BUFFY COAT CONCENTRATION OF 8-METHOXYPSORALEN IN PATIENTS TREATED WITH EXTRACORPOREAL PHOTOPHERESIS

Recently, a new therapy involving an extracorporal activation of orall y administered 8-methoxypsoralen (8-MOP), photosensitizing furocoumari n, is etablished for the treatment of different skin diseases, extraco rporeal photopheresis (ECP). The pharmacokinetic profile of 8-MOP has been pursued as part of a clinical study which should assess the effic acy of ECP in patients with progressive systemic sclerosis and cutaneo us T-cell lymphoma. The enormous intra-individual variations proofed f or plasma as well as buffy coat concentration are unfavourable for ora l 8-MOP therapy. Therefore, the introduction of liquid 8-MOP formulati on that allows the direct administration of the drug in to the treatme nt bag of the ECP device is challenging.