Treatment of endogenous uveitis with cyclosporine A.
Thirty patients suffering from severe sight-threatening bilateral chronic endogenous uveitis were treated with initial dosages of 10 mg/kg/d of CsA. After 1 month of therapy, all patients but one demonstrated a rapid decrease of the intraocular inflammatory processes along with an arrest of the deterioration of vision. After 1 year (or more) of treatment, most patients still show the same visual acuity achieved after 1 month. During the 3-year span of this study, attempts at tapering off the CsA dosage to less than 5 mg/kg/d induced a temporary flare-up in 20 of the 24 patients followed without interruption for more than 6 months. Nonetheless, control of the intraocular inflammation was finally achieved by 5 mg CsA/kg/d or less in 14 of the 25 patients. In six of these 14 patients the CsA dosage was further tapered to total discontinuation. Two of the six patients showed a rapid reactivation of the intraocular inflammatory processes with a profound decrease in vision within 1 and 3 weeks, respectively. In four patients, control of the intraocular inflammation and preservation of good visual acuity have been observed for a period of up to 18 months.
BenEzra
D
D
Pediatric Ophthalmology and Immuno Ophthalmology Unit, Hadassah University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.
Cohen
E
E
Rakotomalala
M
M
de Courten
C
C
Harris
W
W
Chajek
T
T
Friedman
G
G
Matamoros
N
N
D001528:Behcet Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D003524:Cyclosporins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D012008:Recurrence; D014605:Uveitis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014792:Visual Acuity
D003524:Cyclosporins