Prolonged remission induced by cyclosporine in a patient with familial thrombocytopenia and enteropathy.
A 21-year-old patient, since the age of 16, presented a familial type of chronic autoimmune thrombocytopenia that responded only partially to various types of immunosuppressive treatment. His prolonged survival, compared to his decreased siblings, was complicated by the appearance of a severe enteropathy. High doses of corticosteroids induced a type 1 diabetes as a major side effect. The introduction of cyclosporine resulted in both a continuous complete clinical remission and a partial hematological remission and allowed the discontinuation of all other medication for 18 months. In uncommon complex autoimmune disease, cyclosporine may represent a safe and effective alternate therapy when other immunosuppressive agents have failed.
Beck
M N
MN
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Kuchler
H
H
Roulet
M
M
Beck
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017074:Common Variable Immunodeficiency / Q000188:drug therapy; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D016572:Cyclosporine