Cyclosporin A therapy in the treatment of intraocular inflammatory disease resistant to systemic corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents

Abstract

Sixteen patients (ten women and six men, ranging in age from 20 to 67 years) with active bilateral posterior uveitis of noninfectious origin were treated with cyclosporin A, a specific anti-T-cell medication. All had previously received systemic corticosteroids or cytotoxic agents or both and had responded poorly or had intolerable side effects. Fifteen of 16 patients had positive responses to oral cyclosporin A therapy (initially 10 mg/kg of body weight/day), measured by a decrease in inflammatory activity, with a concomitant improvement in visual acuity in most patients. Fluorescein angiographic findings varied considerably with some patients showing an improvement with continued cystoid macular edema. Renal toxicity occurred in five patients, but renal function reverted toward normal with a decrease in cyclosporin A dosage.