Undefined malabsorption syndrome with villous atrophy successfully reversed by treatment with cyclosporine.
A 47-year-old man with a flat jejunal mucosa complicated by malabsorption, diarrhoea and lymphocytic colitis is presented. There was no response to gluten withdrawal alone, combination of a gluten-free diet and prednisone therapy, or total parenteral nutrition. Complete clinical remission was only achieved after simultaneous treatment with cyclosporine and a gluten-free diet. Rechallenge with a gluten-containing diet while cyclosporine treatment continued resulted in a relapse of diarrhoea and malabsorption. We conclude that cyclosporine may be an effective agent for the treatment of undefined, refractory forms of malabsorption.
D001284:Atrophy; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D008286:Malabsorption Syndromes / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010289:Parenteral Nutrition, Total; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D016572:Cyclosporine; D011241:Prednisone