Open AccessEffect of low‐dose cyclosporin a on systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity
Author(s) -
Tokuda Michiaki,
Kurata Noriyuki,
Mizoguchi Akihito,
Inoh Masayuki,
Seto Kunio,
Kinashi Makoto,
Takahara Jiro
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
arthritis & rheumatism
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1529-0131
pISSN - 0004-3591
DOI - 10.1002/art.1780370416
Subject(s) - medicine , anti nuclear antibody , dose , blood urea nitrogen , creatinine , systemic disease , gastroenterology , lupus erythematosus , rheumatology , hypertrichosis , antibody , disease , immunology , autoantibody
Objective . To determine the effect of low‐dose cyclosporin A (CSA) treatment on disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods . All patients in the study had active disease as defined by at least the presence of a low CH50 level. Patients were initially given 3 mg/kg/day of CSA. Dosages were adjusted individually at every visit, according to both clinical and laboratory data. Results . Eleven women with SLE were enrolled in the study; 10 were evaluable. After 20 weeks of CSA treatment, the mean score for disease activity on the SLE Disease Activity Index decreased significantly, from 10.6 to 3.8 ( P = 0.02). The titer of antinuclear antibodies decreased in 8 patients and the level of anti‐DNA antibodies decreased in 5. Side effects included hypertension (40%), hypertrichosis (30%), gingival hypertrophy (10%), and a rise in the blood urea nitrogen level. Serum creatinine levels remained unchanged. Conclusion . The favorable responses observed in our patients strongly suggest that low‐dose CSA can reduce the disease activity of SLE.