Does fish oil protect renal function in cyclosporin‐treated psoriasis patients?

Abstract

Abstract Stoof TJ, Korstanje MJ, Bilo HJG, Starink THM, Hulsmans RFHJ, Donker AJM (Departments of Dermatology and Internal Medicine, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, and Department of Dermatology, Academic Hospital, Maastricht, The Netherlands). Does fish oil protect renal function in cyclosporin‐treated psoriasis patients? In order to study the influence of fish oil on CyA‐induced renal dysfunction, 13 patients with psoriasis (CyA group) received cyclosporin A (CyA) alone, and seven patients (CyA/EPA + DHA group) received a combination of cyclosporin A and fish oil (6 g eicosapentaenoic acid, C20:5 omega‐3, and docosahexaenoic acid, C22:6 omega‐3, daily) for 3 months. The glomerular filtration rate fell by 18.0 ± 9.6% in the CyA group compared with 8.7 ± 6.8% in the CyA/EPA + DHA group (mean ± SD, P < 0.05). The effective renal plasma flow fell by 10.6 ± 8.9% in the CyA group and did not change in the CyA/EPA + DHA group ( P < 0.05). The calculated total renal vascular resistance increased by 19.8 ± 14.5% in the CyA group and did not change in the CyA/EPA + DHA group ( P < 0.01). The results of this pilot study suggest that fish oil can reduce CyA‐associated renal dysfunction in psoriasis patients.