title: Low-dose cyclosporine therapy of granulomatous optic neuropathy and orbitopathy.
abstract: Four patients with granulomatous disease of the anterior visual pathway presented with optic neuropathy between July 1986 and February 1987, secondary to an orbital pseudotumor (n = 1) and sarcoidosis (n = 3). All but one became resistant to corticosteroid therapy, and all were subsequently treated for 1 to 2 years with low-dose cyclosporine alone or in combination with tapering doses of prednisone. Two patients experienced pronounced recovery of visual function, and visual function was stabilized in the other two; in one of these, magnetic resonance imaging showed substantial regression of intracranial lesions. Steroid-induced complications of uncontrolled hyperglycemia (n = 2) and obesity (n = 4) were controlled with cyclosporine. The authors conclude that low-dose cyclosporine is a safe and effective therapeutic alternative in ocular granulomatous diseases.
authors.affiliation: Immuno-ophthalmology Research Laboratory, UMD-New Jersey Medical School, Newark 07103-2714.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bielory
authors.forename: L P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Frohman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009901:Optic Nerve Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009916:Orbital Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects; D014606:Uveitis, Anterior / Q000188:drug therapy; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D016572:Cyclosporine; D011241:Prednisone