title: Liver injury from cyclosporine A.
abstract: To assess the incidence of cyclosporine A-induced hepatotoxicity, we retrospectively analyzed liver biochemical test results in 59 patients with endogenous uveitis who received cyclosporine A. All patients had normal liver tests before treatment and had at least six determinations during a 6- to 36-month course of therapy with cyclosporine A at a dose of 2-10 mg/kg/day. Thirty-four (58%) patients developed at least one abnormality of liver tests, and 19 (32%) had a prolonged pattern of abnormalities. The usual abnormalities consisted of a mild, transient increase in alkaline phosphatase levels occasionally accompanied by slight elevations in serum bilirubin and aminotransferase activities. Peak alkaline phosphatase levels ranged from 125 to 243 units/liter and persisted for seven days to 48 months. Thus, biochemical evidence of mild cholestatic liver injury was common in patients receiving cyclosporine A. These abnormalities are usually self-limited and asymptomatic but may cause diagnostic difficulty if a preexisting liver disease is present.
authors.affiliation: Digestive Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kassianides
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nussenblatt
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Palestine
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Mellow
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Hoofnagle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000506:poisoning*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014605:Uveitis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase