Immunosuppressive and cytotoxic drugs in the treatment of rheumatic skin disorders

Cytotoxic and immunosuppressive drugs ore regularly used to treat proliferative, immunologically mediated inflammatory disorders and some neoplastic diseases of the skin. Methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclosporin cyclophosphamide, chlorambucil, and other related drugs have potential benefits in the treatment of severe and/or recalcitrant rheumatic skin diseases, The therapeutic window for these agents is narrow. The major uses of these drugs am for life-threatening cutaneous disorders or as steroid-sparing agents. Copyright (C) 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company.