title: Cyclosporin A to prevent graft-versus-host disease in man after allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation.
abstract: Cyclosporin A has been used in conjunction with allogeneic bone-marrow transplantation in the treatment of 23 patients--21 with acute leukaemia, 1 with chronic granulocytic leukaemia, and 1 with aplastic anaemia. The drug was given twice daily from the day before transplant. At the start of the study cyclosporin prophylaxis was stopped in 3 patients within 44 days of transplantation because of non-specific rashes and/or deteriorating renal function. All 3 patients had acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and died. Thereafter the drug was not stopped because of possible toxic manifestations, and 20 patients have been studied (median follow-up 7 months; maximum 13 months). 2 patients have acquired GVHD; 1 patient died of acute GVHD and 1 has chronic mild disease. 3 other patients have died, 2 of recurrent leukaemia and a third of staphylococcal pneumonia with renal failure. Of the remaining patients, 1 has recurrent leukaemia and 1 has moderately severe renal failure. Several toxic effects of cyclosporin A have been observed but they are mostly reversible and no second malignant neoplasm has developed.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000741:Anemia, Aplastic / Q000628:therapy; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006087:Graft vs Host Reaction / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007945:Leukemia, Lymphoid / Q000628:therapy; D007951:Leukemia, Myeloid / Q000628:therapy; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic