R Ryback1. 1. Potomac Ridge Behavioural Health, Adventist Healthcare 14901 Broschart Road, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study was initiated following a serendipitous finding in which a patient who presented with both a mood disorder and psoriasis experienced significant improvement of her psoriasis following treatment with topiramate. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of topiramate for the treatment of psoriasis. METHODS: Seven other patients, six of whom presented with both mood disorders and psoriasis and one with psoriasis only, were treated in an open-label fashion with topiramate. Topiramate therapy was usually initiated at 15 mg day-1 and gradually titrated by 15 mg week-1 to an average final dose of 56 mg day-1. Patients were treated for a minimum of 4 months. Psoriasis severity was measured using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). RESULTS: For all patients, the mean PASI score decreased from 16.1 before treatment to 7.1. For patients exhibiting improvement, the mean PASI score decreased from 14.3 to 3.9. CONCLUSIONS: These results represent the first known report of the efficacy of topiramate in the treatment of psoriasis.
BACKGROUND: This study was initiated following a serendipitous finding in which a patient who presented with both a mood disorder and psoriasis experienced significant improvement of her psoriasis following treatment with topiramate. OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy of topiramate for the treatment of psoriasis. METHODS: Seven other patients, six of whom presented with both mood disorders and psoriasis and one with psoriasis only, were treated in an open-label fashion with topiramate. Topiramate therapy was usually initiated at 15 mg day-1 and gradually titrated by 15 mg week-1 to an average final dose of 56 mg day-1. Patients were treated for a minimum of 4 months. Psoriasis severity was measured using the psoriasis area and severity index (PASI). RESULTS: For all patients, the mean PASI score decreased from 16.1 before treatment to 7.1. For patients exhibiting improvement, the mean PASI score decreased from 14.3 to 3.9. CONCLUSIONS: These results represent the first known report of the efficacy of topiramate in the treatment of psoriasis.