Numeric Changes of T LymphocytesCD4+ and CD8+ in the Skin of Patients with PsoriasisTreated by Cyclosporin A

Overview

Many things are still not clear in the etiopathogenesis of psoriasis. Health workers in variousbranches of medicine and even those working in other professions linked with medicine cancontribute to gaining more knowledge about its etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis or treatment.This work presents results from observations of 19 patients with a severe form of psoriasis.Material for immunohistopathological examinations was taken from the margins of chronic psori-atic sites twice from each patient: before treatment and after a 4 - week treatment by cyclosporinA. Numeric value of CD4+ T lymphocytes, CD8+ T lymphocytes, their ratios and the values of PASIscore were followed. Significant decrease in CD4 T lymphocytes and slight decrease in CD8+ Tlymphocytes where observed after treatment. The CD4+:CD8+ ratio dropped from the values of2.10 to 1.68. A dramatic decrease in PASI score was observed - from the average value of 23.34 tothe average value of 11.97. The authors compare and discuss the results of similar cytophotomet-ric studies found in the works of other researchers, but this type of results (CD4+ and CD8+ Tlymphocytes subpopulations) is very rare in available literature. The decreases found in all studi-ed parametres correspond with clinically well-known treatment effect of cyclosporin A whoseimmunomodulating effect is targeted mainly at the T lymphocyte inflammatory population.

Key words:
psoriasis - cyclosporin A - CD4+ - CD8+ - PASI score