JPAC Joint United Kingdom (UK) Blood Transfusion and Tissue Transplantation Services Professional Advisory Committee

Psoriasis

Obligatory

Must not donate if:
a) Has ever taken etretinate (Tigason®).

b) Less than 36 months from the last dose of acitretin (Neotigason®).

c) Less than 12 months from the last dose of any treatment that may affect the immune system.

d) Generalized or severe.

e) There is secondary infection.

Discretionary

If mild, the venepuncture site is unaffected and only using topical treatment, accept.

See

Autoimmune Disease

Additional Information

Psoriasis is primarily a skin condition caused by an autoimmune process. Sometimes the disease is treated with powerful drugs and/or ultraviolet radiation to suppress the underlying autoimmune process. This may be with treatment with PUVA, methotrexate, ciclosporin, hydroxycarbamide etc. and this may alter the body's defence mechanisms to infection. In such cases donations should not be taken for at least 12 months after such treatment has finished.

Etretinate (Tigason®) and acitretin (Neotigason®) can cause birth defects in babies exposed to them while inside the womb. It is important to allow time for the drug to be cleared from the blood of a donor. It takes longer to clear some drugs than others.

Reason for change

The deferral period after acitretin therapy has increased from 24 to 36 months.

Donor Information

If you wish to obtain more information regarding a personal medical issue please contact your National Help Line.

Please do not contact this web site for personal medical queries, as we are not in a position to provide individual answers.

Update Information

This entry was last updated in:
DSG-WB Edition 203, Release 55.