Cyclosporin A (CyA) trough (pre-dose) levels were measured in whole blood with a radioimmunoassay (RIA) using specific monoclonal antibody in 193 patients receiving CyA for the treatment of psoriasis. These patients received either CyA 2.5 mg/kg/day (n = 134) or 5 mg/kg/day (n = 59). In addition, a subgroup of 94 patients also had CyA trough levels measured using a non-specific polyclonal RIA. Within each CyA dose group, no difference was detected between mean CyA trough levels in relation to success or failure nor to the presence or absence of renal dysfunction with the use of either the specific or non-specific RIA. Based on the experience in transplantation, CyA thresholds of 100 and 200 ng/ml (specific) were selected for the assessment of efficacy and renal dysfunction. The success rate was higher by 10-15% when the CyA level was above, rather than below, 100 ng/ml in both the CyA 2.5 mg and 5 mg/kg/day groups. A slightly increased incidence of renal dysfunction was only found in the 5 mg/kg/day group when the CyA level was above 200 ng/ml. Because of its low predictive value, measurement of the level of CyA was not particularly useful for monitoring patients with psoriasis treated with low-dose CyA.

The main conclusions are that (1) immunohistological markers of proliferation can be applied to routine renal biopsy material; (2) PC10 appears to overestimate proliferation compared with MIB 1; and (3) there is evidence of subclinical tubular damage in the nephrotic syndrome, shown by increased tubular proliferation without clinical renal impairment. This observation seems not to have been made previously.

These novel data suggest a role for caveolae (specifically caveolin-1) in propofol-induced bronchodilatation. Due to its lipid nature, propofol may transiently disrupt caveolar regulation, thus altering ASM [Ca(2+)](i).

such as the common extensor origin at the elbow or in the contents of the carpal tunnel.The authors would like to thank Dr B B Seedhom for his invaluable help in checking the accuracy of the radiographic measurements, Mr H B Bentley for carrying out the radiography, Mrs R Hopkins for her help with the analysis of the results, and Mrs J Battersby for typing the manuscript. This paper forms part of an MD thesis (CFML) to be submitted to the University of London.