The chemotherapy of psoriasis with azaribine: Mirage or miracle

Abstract

An antimetabolite, administered orally, which alleviates the symptoms and signs of severe psoriasis, azaribine (triacetyl-6-azauridine), was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA of the USA) for clinical use in 1975, but 18 months later approval was withdrawn. The mechanism of action of azaribine (as a precursor of 6-azauridine 5’-azauridine 5’-monophosphate) is described and the probable cause of the infrequent vascular thromboses and a means of preventing them (by the co-administration of pyridoxine) are discussed.