Psoriasis often impairs quality of life and causes frequent severe exacerbations that require systemic treatments. Limited literature exists on the role of systemic maintenance therapy in preventing these frequent flares. Researchers of a study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of weekend cyclosporine treatment (WCT) as maintenance therapy in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic plaque psoriasis to prevent frequent disease exacerbations.
In this retrospective cohort study, 22 psoriasis patients with frequent exacerbations (≥3 in the last year) treated with WCT (group A) were compared to 22 matched patients not on WCT or any systemic maintenance therapy (group B). The results showed that only 18.2% of patients in group A experienced exacerbations, significantly lower than 95.5% in group B. Additionally, group A had fewer overall exacerbations (mean 0.23) compared to group B (mean 2.95). Adverse effects were minimal and similar between both groups. The study concluded that WCT significantly reduces disease exacerbations and is a safe and effective maintenance therapy for this subset of patients with psoriasis.
Reference: Dogra S, Kumar S, Narang T, Mehta H, Hanumanthu V, Handa S. Efficacy and safety of weekend cyclosporine treatment as maintenance therapy for preventing frequent disease exacerbations in moderate to severe chronic plaque psoriasis patients – A retrospective cohort study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2024:1-5. doi: 10.25259/IJDVL_1089_2023.
