title: Low-dose cyclosporin A induces relapsing remitting experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in the Lewis rat.
abstract: Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) in Lewis rats is an acute monophasic autoimmune disease. It can be treated prophylactically and therapeutically with high doses of cyclosporin A (CsA). Here we demonstrate that low-dose CsA does not prevent a first attack of EAE, but, on the contrary, induces a chronic relapsing form of the disease in 100% of Lewis rats examined. Possible explanations for the high relapse rate after low-dose CsA treatment are discussed. Further studies will be needed to evaluate the immunological mechanisms responsible for these results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Polman
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Matthaei
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Koetsier
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sminia
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Dijkstra
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity*; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D003524:Cyclosporins